01/21/2026

PALTC News - January 21

Isolation Fears, Shifting Infection Control Practices Endanger Residents, Staff: Study

McKnight's Long-Term Care News
Even well-established infection control policies are often abandoned—or at least deviated from—when put into practice during nursing home flu and COVID outbreaks, according to a new study in JAMDA. Read more.

18 States Update Assisted Living Regulations, With Increased Focus on Staff Training

McKnight's Senior Living
Direct care staff education and training led efforts among states that modified assisted living regulations in 2025, according to the National Center for Assisted Living's 2025 Assisted Living State Regulatory Review. Eighteen (35%) states reported making regulatory or legislative changes between January 1 and December 31 that affected assisted living residents, staff members, or community operations, according to the report. Read more.

Virtual Care and Wearables to Manage Chronic Disease in Long-Term Care

Provider Magazine
In recent years, virtual care and wearable health devices have opened new possibilities by giving clinicians clearer visibility into residents' health between visits. For the first time, long-term care teams can see trends that were previously invisible, such as shifts in heart rate, nighttime oxygen levels, mobility patterns, and early signals of physiological stress. Read more.

Top Trends That Will Shape the Skilled Nursing Sector in 2026

Skilled Nursing News
The skilled nursing sector is entering 2026 on firmer footing than a year ago. For example, the rollback of the staffing mandate has removed a major looming threat, allowing providers to refocus on stability and selective growth. At the same time, however, uncertainty remains on the policy and payment fronts. Read more.

Vaccines Are Helping Older People More Than We Knew

KFF Health News
New reasons for older people to be vaccinated are emerging. They are known, in doctor-speak, as off-target benefits, meaning that the shots do good things beyond preventing the diseases they were designed to avert. Read more.