I knew I was a hopelessly timid Canadian when the armed phlebotomist approached with his hands trembling and needle drawn — and I didn’t think to protest. No hand raised in the international symbol...
Punching in
By
Gary Tetz
Aug 13, 2015
Let’s say you bought your long-term care administrator an expensive venti tall double-half frappalatte on your way to work yesterday, and he didn’t reimburse you for it. Should you A) playfully...
Swallowing a ‘Bitter Pill’
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 11, 2013
The best med aides I’ve ever seen have an almost spooky knack for getting nursing home residents to take their medicine. It’s an art form, really. A mystical mix of command, humor and good,...
New Year, new choice
By
Gary Tetz
Jan 08, 2015
People have wondered if I was awake to welcome the New Year. I think it’s another way to find out if I’m old, like one of those trick long-term care job interview questions that would be illegal...
Lost in a nursing home elevator — and lived to not talk about it
By
Gary Tetz
Jun 20, 2013
Here’s one that slipped through the cracks, and I’m beating myself up about it. How did I miss the McKnight’s story about Rosalie, the 87-year-old nursing home resident who was trapped...
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...
Better is better
By
Gary Tetz
Mar 18, 2021
So, how are you coping, compared to the other pandemics you’ve had to contend with?
The incredible shrinking brain
By
Gary Tetz
May 28, 2020
For those of you seeking a different coping path through this pandemic, might I suggest walking, gardening, swimming or dancing. I say this because a new preliminary study suggests that people who do those...
Courage is contagious
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 02, 2020
Facility staff have no idea if catching COVID-19 will be merely an annoyance or a life-threatening battle, a parking ticket or a death sentence. But still, they go.
In praise of Roberta
By
Gary Tetz
Sep 07, 2017
Let’s make one thing perfectly clear. I’m not suggesting long-term care facilities are exactly like the Department of Motor Vehicles. They’re simply not equivalent, though I know many...