Blogs, Guest Columns, Things I Think and Living Leadership
Long-term care’s 12th Man
By
Gary Tetz
Jan 16, 2014
Sometimes people can love too much. For instance, when love causes an earthquake, it might be time to pull back and examine the health of the relationship.
The need for SNFS for baby boomers
By
Mary Fran Thaler
Jan 15, 2014
As we grow older, our focus on how to achieve and maintain our health becomes more acute. Healthy aging is achievable if action is taken sooner rather than later. Over the last few decades, we have seen...
Therapy patients need, and deserve, this simple self-image booster
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jan 14, 2014
Have you ever had a day when you looked great but felt depressed? Or you looked your worst but felt great? Perception of self-image is stronger than actual self-image with determining our emotions. Would...
Preparing CNAs for success
By
Susan LaGrange
Jan 13, 2014
Adequate preparation, communication of expectations and ongoing monitoring is certainly essential for our certified nursing assistants. Holding them accountable for their assignments, proper technique...
Gender adjustments for Alzheimer’s caregivers
By
Allan S. Vann, Ed.D
Jan 10, 2014
For quite some time, I was the only male in my Alzheimer’s disease spousal support group. I quickly discovered that I could not resolve some problems for my wife, Clare, in the same way as some women...
Stuff I won’t do for residents and why your staff shouldn’t either: preventing burnout in...
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jan 09, 2014
In my last post, I wrote about some of the many things I do for residents as a long-term care psychologist. The astute reader will note that most of the tasks were accomplished during work hours and within...
FDA updates bed rail entrapment guidelines
Jan 08, 2014
Last month, the FDA posted some new materials on bed rails and related products. This reiterated what should by now be the well-known hazards of entrapment and death when the bed user gets entangled within...
Wishes for a Happy New Year — in their words and mine
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Jan 07, 2014
Surfing the Internet around New Year’s Day, I saw many quotes, both famous and anonymous, spreading wishes and advice for the year ahead. I thought of how, with some minor adjustments, they could...
CNA speak: Take time to learn the language
By
Lori Porter
Jan 03, 2014
In my 32 years of careful study regarding the divide between administration and certified nursing aides, I have learned many things. One of the most important discoveries is that there are two separate...
The year of the opinion
By
Gary Tetz
Jan 02, 2014
If 2013 was anything, and I’m not convinced it was, it was the year of strong opinions — even in long-term care. The fact that they were often biased, self-serving or blissfully fact-free seemed...