Many things make long-term care unique. For one, you’d be hard pressed to find a sector where angels and devils intermingle so regularly. The angels in our midst are easy to spot, as their effervescence...
Stars aligned for shift
By
John O'Connor
Oct 01, 2014
The Five Star rating system is about to get retooled, thanks to a scathing report in The New York Times. The only real question is how extensive the changes will be.
They’re not all ingrates
By
John O'Connor
Sep 01, 2014
It’s no surprise that staff turnover remains alarmingly high at many long-term care communities.
Lest we forget, it’s hardly all bad
By
John O'Connor
Nov 03, 2023
Skilled care operators now find themselves on the bad business end of many a pointed finger.
What’s more frightening than the nursing shortage? What’s driving it
By
John O'Connor
Jun 12, 2015
To better appreciate this sector’s alarming nurse-staffing nightmare, it’s helpful to recall the warden’s famous line in Cool Hand Luke: “What we’ve got here is failure to...
Our elected officials: patriots or lackeys?
By
John O'Connor
Mar 26, 2012
It’s becoming increasingly obvious that our elected leaders need to quit playing political chicken. Otherwise, there are going to be some bleak days ahead for We the People.
Plan to cut funding gets strong rebuke
By
John O'Connor
Sep 01, 2011
Long-term care officials excoriated a federal proposal to trim Medicare payments by more than 11%.
Bizarre decision shows that when it comes to 3-day stay rule, there ought to be a law
By
John O'Connor
Oct 11, 2013
There are many odd animals roaming our healthcare industrial complex. But few are more bizarre than Medicare’s three-day rule. Or more deserving of extinction.
As HUD gets its house in order, more long-term care operators are buying in
By
John O'Connor
Dec 10, 2012
It wasn’t so long ago that long-term care operators looked at HUD funding with a disdain bordering on contempt. But the Department of Housing and Urban Development has come a long way in a short...
Making a big difference
By
John O'Connor
Feb 01, 2012
About a decade ago, Monster.com unveiled a brilliant ad campaign. The spots were black and white vignettes in which children talked about their aspirations. But these kids were already jaded.