Center for Excellence in Assisted Living CEAL@UNC

Advancing the well-being of the people who live and work in assisted living through research, practice, and policy.

The Senior Care Pharmacist

Paucity of Published Data and Protocols for Hypoglycemia Management in Long-term Care

Oct 1, 2024
Background: Older people with diabetes are at high risk for hypoglycemia. Implementing a hypoglycemia treatment protocol in long-term care (LTC) settings may positively affect patient-related outcomes and health care resource utilization and costs. Anecdotal experience indicates little has been studied and published regarding this clinical practice. Objective: To identify hypoglycemia treatment protocols established for LTC […]

Paucity of Published Data and Protocols for Hypoglycemia Management in Long-term Care

by Lea Efird-Green

Background: Older people with diabetes are at high risk for hypoglycemia. Implementing a hypoglycemia treatment protocol in long-term care (LTC) settings may positively affect patient-related outcomes and health care resource utilization and costs. Anecdotal experience indicates little has been studied and published regarding this clinical practice. Objective: To identify hypoglycemia treatment protocols established for LTC […]

Impact of Function-Focused Care on Psychotropic Medications and Opioid Use among Assisted Living Residents

Mar 1, 2022
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: This study evaluated the impact of function focused care (which trains staff to evaluate residents’ functional capacity and physical activity to optimize their participation in activities) on the use of psychotropic medications and opioids. The study observed 794 residents across 85 communities over 12 months. There was a reduction in opioid use in the treatment group after four months; in the full sample during the overall study period, there was an increase in the use of benzodiazepines and antipsychotics.

Impact of Function-Focused Care on Psychotropic Medications and Opioid Use among Assisted Living Residents

by Lea Efird-Green

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU: This study evaluated the impact of function focused care (which trains staff to evaluate residents’ functional capacity and physical activity to optimize their participation in activities) on the use of psychotropic medications and opioids. The study observed 794 residents across 85 communities over 12 months. There was a reduction in opioid use in the treatment group after four months; in the full sample during the overall study period, there was an increase in the use of benzodiazepines and antipsychotics.