Blogs, Guest Columns, Things I Think and Living Leadership
The safety net for seniors
By
James Lomastro
Jan 02, 2014
Healthcare reform, especially the expansion of Medicaid, will bring into focus the fragility of the safety net. This is a system that is for vulnerable seniors, but which has not been adequately financed.
Stuff I’ve done for residents as a long-term care shrink
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Dec 31, 2013
Many of us in long-term care think of our jobs as a calling. We handle the day-to-day tasks and the business as usual but also get a lot of energy and joy out of taking our work one step further. Here...
The need for documentation in therapy
By
Tara Roberts
Dec 23, 2013
Skilled therapy documentation traditionally focuses on prior level of function, current level of function and ultimately desired discharge level of function. Outcomes are typically measured in short and...
Four ways for assisted living operators to facilitate transitions
By
Allan S. Vann, Ed.D
Dec 20, 2013
My wife, Clare, has Alzheimer’s disease and recently entered the “Reflections” unit for residents with dementia in an assisted living facility. Clare’s transition from home to ALF...
Blinking lights and deadly bacteria
By
Gary Tetz
Dec 19, 2013
Well, alrighty then. Looks like I didn’t win the lottery. So I guess I’ll have to buckle down and write yet another profound but cheeky blog post for this fine long-term care news magazine....
Be careful what you wish for
By
Steven Littlehale
Dec 18, 2013
Last January, the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont approved a settlement agreement in the case of Jimmo vs Sebelius that alleged Medicare contractors were inappropriately applying an “improvement...
Personal stories every therapist should know
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Dec 17, 2013
What’s the point of all of our treatment interventions and plans of care if we can’t relate to our patients? If you can put a face and personality behind your justification for therapy services,...
Grace needed at separation: People don’t forget
By
Jeff Kortes
Dec 16, 2013
Handing in your resignation is rarely an easy event. As a leader, be it a program manager, assistant or an administrator, ask yourself this question: How do I treat people when they resign to take another...
Ten tips to lower your LTC litigation costs
By
Christy Tosh Crider
Dec 13, 2013
If you are a provider of long term care services, the odds are that, in today’s litigation climate, your long term care facility will get sued. Full-page newspapers ads, expensive television spots...
Using psychology to reduce roommate conflicts: A handy guide
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Dec 12, 2013
I’ve heard many complaints about roommates from residents over the years. While some roommate difficulties need to be addressed on a situation-by-situation basis, most conflicts revolve around a...