Illinois Health Care Association

03/16/2026

Seven years later: What long term care saw coming!
https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/guest-columns/seven-years-later-what-long-term-care-saw-coming/

03/16/2026

CMS says it will invest in online and other tools that help promote and streamline CNA recruitment.
https://www.mcknights.com/news/breaking-cms-nursing-home-staffing-campaign-more-than-doubles-to-200m/

03/16/2026

A new approach to senior care brings AI companionship and daily living support together.
https://www.registerguard.com/press-release/story/43886/a-new-approach-to-senior-care-brings-ai-companionship-and-daily-living-support-together/

03/13/2026

IHCA Lobby Day | April 15, 2026 | IL State Capitol

Make your voice heard for long term care at IHCA Lobby Day on April 15th at the Illinois State Capitol.

The day kicks off with a focused educational session worth 1 CE, followed by in-person legislative meetings to advocate for the residents and providers we serve. Lunch is included, and participants will leave informed, energized, and directly engaged in shaping policy that impacts long-term care.

For questions, contact the IHCA office, 217-528-6455.

https://members.ihca.com/ap/Events/Register/6VFeb2OsmC1CZ

03/13/2026

Researchers say a simple blood test may help answer not only whether Alzheimer’s disease is developing, but when symptoms might begin.

A new study published in Nature Medicine shows that a plasma biomarker “clock model” can estimate Alzheimer’s symptom onset within three to four years. Here’s what that means for you and your future planning.

03/12/2026

Seniors with limited mobility can still enjoy meaningful and fun activities.

From audiobooks and podcasts, to learning a new language, there are plenty of enjoyable weekend activities for older adults with limited mobility. With the help of caregivers, older adults may also be able to pursue artistic endeavors like painting and knitting. This ensures their days are full of c...

03/12/2026

New study says nursing homes that met CNA coverage and increased hours for both CNAs and registered nurses experienced significantly lower rates of injurious falls.
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-nursing-home-staffing-patterns-falls.html

A new study has found that nursing homes with higher staffing levels report fewer injurious falls among long-stay residents. The study also found that facilities with insufficient staff levels are associated with increased falls.

03/11/2026

"Providers should establish standard education and training programs that support staff across shifts in capturing and providing needed care."
https://www.mcknights.com/news/providers-navigate-opportunity-and-exposure-of-respiratory-therapy-as-scrutiny-grows/

As many as half of all nursing home patients may benefit from respiratory therapy, given rising complexity and common conditions such as COPD, congestive heart failure and other chronic breathing and swallowing disorders.

03/11/2026

Healthcare worker unions operated in 16.4% of nursing homes in the contiguous US between 2013 and 2021, with 321 nursing homes newly unionized in that time.

RN staffing fell in nursing homes that added unions, but that did not equate to declines in quality, a new study shows.

03/11/2026

Skilled nursing providers have long struggled to gather advance care planning information from patients, but most states are now requiring they undertake an effort to do so.

Nursing home patients are more likely to die in the facility or in hospice than in a hospital in states with mature POLST programs, according to a new, first-of-its kind study.

03/11/2026

The shift towards person-centered care and collaborative planning.
https://medicalnewsbulletin.com/innovations-in-long-term-care-what-todays-patients-and-families-need-to-know/

Long term care innovations are transforming the way patients undergo recovery, rehabilitation and daily assistance and families seeking senior care facilities may also require a clear direction of what contemporary providers currently provide and how to make effective choices of alternatives. With t...

03/10/2026

With the 2027 proposed pay rule under review by the Office of Management and Budget, experts were asked for their predictions on the future of NTA codes, payments, and when the changes might occur.

Changes to a key component of the Patient Driven Payment Model remain in limbo two years after they were first proposed, but federal regulators are still poised to refine the system to accommodate for unexpected spending and evolving patient needs.