05/07/2026

PALTC News - May 6

Rural Nursing Home Crisis Deepens as Closures and Citations Mount

McKnight's Long-Term Care News
The number of rural U.S. nursing homes is declining, especially in remote areas, and the providers who remain are being cited for serious deficiencies more often than at any other time in the last decade. Read more.

New CDC Messaging May Be Eroding Trust in Vaccines, Survey Finds

MedPage Today
The CDC's shift to an uncertainty-based approach when conveying the scientific evidence on vaccines and autism could already be increasing vaccine hesitancy and strengthening agreement with science-denial strategies, according to an online survey of U.S. adults. Read more.

Skilled Nursing Facility Network Capacity and Hospital Length of Stay

JAMA
Is skilled nursing facility (SNF) capacity within hospital-SNF markets associated with hospital length of stay? This study of 3.34 million Medicare fee-for-service hospitalizations in 2018 and 2019 identified 421 hospital-SNF markets using community detection. Within markets, lower nurse staffing levels were associated with longer hospital stays, particularly among beneficiaries dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. Read more.

U.S. FDA approves Axsome's drug for Alzheimer's-related agitation

Reuters
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Axsome Therapeutics' new drug to treat agitation ‌in patients with Alzheimer's disease. The drug, branded Auvelity, offers an alternative to antipsychotic drugs for patients with Alzheimer's-related agitation, marked by restlessness, aggression, and emotional distress. Read more.

12 Ingredients to Elevate the Dining Experience in Senior Living

McKnight's Senior Living
In today's senior living communities, the dining experience plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for residents. As baby boomers redefine retirement, their lifestyle and preferences significantly influence the latest trends. This article features some of the more popular dining trends catering to the tastes of this generation. Read more.