Blogs, Guest Columns, Things I Think and Living Leadership
Nurses Day — a picture of perseverance
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Apr 15, 2014
As Nurses Day approaches, I’ve begun to wonder: How do you describe in one blog the “awesomeness” of a long-term care nurse? And then it hit me … a single word. Perhaps no single...
Integrating mind, body and spirit
By
Michael McCann, MS
Apr 14, 2014
As technologies continue to develop, our residents’ needs also change. The need for a computer lab is waning as our residents are starting to be more tech-savvy. Life enrichment teams in long-term...
Pain: An LTC rehab perspective
By
Tara Roberts
Apr 11, 2014
LTC therapists seem to be stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to patient pain. Pain management is at the forefront of surveyors and scrutinized as a CMS quality measure.
Long-term (care) anxiety at bargain prices
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 10, 2014
The median annual cost of a nursing home room is now more than $87,000, according to a recent survey. To an uninformed member of the public, I’m sure that seems like a lot. But what the average person...
High stakes and rewards at ACHCA Convocation
By
Mary Helen McSweeney-Feld
Apr 09, 2014
Themes at ACHCA included leadership excellence, mentoring, culture change and reducing hospital readmissions.
Ready, set … Just kidding! (ICD-10 adventures continue)
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Apr 08, 2014
Is that how everyone is feeling about the ICD-10 delays? Well, that’s how I’m feeling. We almost got within the six-month window for implementation. Just when we were all geared up and ready...
Why LTC organizations should conduct end-of-life planning conversations
By
Kerry Shannon
Apr 07, 2014
Advance end-of-life planning can spare patients unwanted, aggressive treatments and it can help physicians calibrate care in more reasonable manner.
The Eldercare Method: Using psychology for positive outcomes
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 03, 2014
Those of us in long-term care have undoubtedly witnessed incidents where residents become agitated and staff members don’t have the tools to prevent or manage their distress. Unfortunately, psychologists...
Spacely Sprockets and the future of medical care
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Apr 02, 2014
So does anyone remember the cartoon “The Jetsons”? You know, George and Jane, daughter Judy, son Elroy and, of course, the dog, Astro. It’s kind of fun to see how their 1960s and 1980s...
Self-esteem, the universe, and checks and balances for all of us
By
Lori Porter
Apr 02, 2014
I have always been a person who never just dips a toe in the water. I jump in whole hog! Most of the time it works very well for me. I’ve been this way as long as I can remember.