It seems ironic, doesn’t it? Long-term care, often criticized as a financial albatross, may be an engine for economic growth. That is what the American Health Care Association and the Alliance for Quality...
African-American centenarian attends inauguration
By
Liza Berger
Jan 20, 2009
Among the masses at the historic presidential inauguration today was a special attendee: Ella Mae Johnson. She turned 105 last Tuesday. A resident of Judson Park, an assisted living facility in Cleveland,...
A football feast
By
Liza Berger
Jan 14, 2009
Mmm … yum. A long-term care story has got my mouth watering. As the time ticks down to the National Football League conference finals this weekend, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) has made a pledge....
Readers: How would you ‘star’ the new rating system?
By
James M. Berklan
Jan 12, 2009
Driving home last week, I heard a prominent movie reviewer say on the radio that he loves January. Why? “Because all of the movies that come out are just terrible,” he explained with a mischievous...
Rough economy hits Erickson
By
Liza Berger
Jan 09, 2009
Well, it seems we are in a financial crisis. I know I’m in the news business and should be up on these things. You might agree, though, that economic trends are hard to grasp unless you’ve felt them...
A ‘promising’ new year
By
Liza Berger
Jan 06, 2009
It’s the New Year, otherwise known as resolution time—the season to hit the gym five days a week, read more books and be nicer to your mother-in-law. At least until the end of January, that is. Since...
Five-star fiasco
By
Liza Berger
Dec 18, 2008
What do nursing homes want for Christmas? Something that they are unlikely to receive: a new five-star rating system. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services presented them with a most unwelcome holiday...
Minnix sounds off on rating system for nursing homes
By
Liza Berger
Dec 17, 2008
The five-star rating system for nursing homes officially begins tomorrow. But it is already off to a rocky start. Today the normally easygoing Larry Minnix, president and CEO of the American Association...
It’s time to let ‘geezers’ go
By
Liza Berger
Dec 12, 2008
So, I met this crotchety old man the other day. What an old fart! Not such nice words to describe the older gentleman, right? A new book on ageism in the media agrees. “Media Takes: On Aging,” recently...
Showdown with FDA over pistol for seniors
By
Liza Berger
Dec 10, 2008
Could a pistol qualify as a medical device? That’s what Matthew Carmel, inventor of the Palm Pistol, believes. He is considering appealing a decision by the Food and Drug Administration, which found...