— Wow. A study from Harvard finds lawsuits have no impact on improving nursing home quality of care [US News and World Report]:
Researchers say the finding illustrates that litigation, or the threat of litigation, doesn’t lead to improvements in patient care. Nor does it appear that better nursing homes are rewarded for superior care in terms of fewer lawsuits.
“Nursing homes that are at the very top of the heap in terms of quality don’t experience that much less litigation than nursing homes that are at the bottom of the heap,” said lead study author David Studdert, a law professor at the University of Melbourne in Australia. “It’s not clear that by improving your quality dramatically you will lessen your risk of being sued.”
— Gay, lesbian and bisexual seniors are more likely to suffer from chronic disease, emotional problems and isolation, study says [McKnight’s LTCNews]
— Smart Money gives some succinct advice on how to pick the right nursing home. [Wall Street Journal]
— New novel stands out for having a protagonist who doesn’t deny or resist her age [NYT New Old Age blog]:
So often, novels and movies with elderly protagonists take pains to depict them in a state of rebellion. They’re breaking out of an assisted living facility. They’re skydiving and climbing the pyramids, pursuing their bucket lists. They’re heading into space for one last, crucial mission.
I cherish the newly published novel “Emily, Alone,” by Stewart O’Nan, because the main character doesn’t deny or resist her age.
