Weekly Wrap - October 31, 2025

In this episode of HealthCap Weekly Wrap, we cover a wide range of timely and essential updates for senior living professionals. We start with breaking news from the Office of Inspector General, which found that the CMS Special Focus Facility program is failing to drive long-term improvements in care quality. With the federal government shutdown currently underway, we also walk through CMS's revised contingency plan and what it means for survey and certification activities. Infection control takes center stage as we explore two detailed resources from APIC—one on building effective infection surveillance plans, and another on implementing Enhanced Barrier Precautions in skilled nursing settings. We also revisit the CDC's core recommendations for isolation precautions, a foundational document that remains highly relevant today. On the wellness side, we highlight new research from the Mather Institute showing how older adults connect nutrition with brain health, and how that belief influences their dietary habits and cognitive performance. Finally, we close with groundbreaking science out of the UK, where trained dogs are now detecting early Parkinson's disease with surprising accuracy. It's a packed episode full of insights, practical tools, and emerging innovations that can help every senior living community continue to lead with care and purpose.