Same-sex couples: Are you and your staff prepared? Probably not
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 05, 2013
Last week, McKnight’s staff writer Tim Mullaney wrote about the new Medicare guidance that guarantees that same-sex married couples can live in the same nursing home. Is your staff prepared to offer...
I saw the (nursing home) sign, and it opened up my eyes
By
Tim Mullaney
Sep 03, 2013
When talking to long-term care leaders about new construction or facility renovations, I hear the word “residential” spoken often, and with great excitement and pride. And I’ve accepted...
At least we still have AHCA — or is that TMI?
By
John O'Connor
Aug 30, 2013
There’s an informal nickname that describes the many acronyms being used in healthcare these days: alphabet soup. We may have just experienced an Olympic record for it.
King’s dream and the thorny reality in long-term care
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 27, 2013
I got together with a few friends last weekend, and one of them mentioned she had volunteered in a nursing home during high school. She shared one of her vivid memories, of a certain resident who was sweet...
Look on the bright side to fight depression
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Aug 20, 2013
I was recently reading an article about depression and what one can do to help themselves. It said that how you became depressed is important, but more importantly, you can learn how to do various things...
Frontline, Emeritus and the question of empathy
By
Tim Mullaney
Aug 20, 2013
It’s easier to have empathy for people if you know specific things about them. Long-term care providers know this, and it is behind many valuable programs to learn more about residents’ lives....
Stay dry to stop mosquitoes this summer
By
Greg Baumann
Aug 15, 2013
Not only has summer brought along its signature heat, but the season also has dumped heavy rainfall in many regions across the country. The resulting weather has been good news for mosquitoes, –...
Here’s the lowdown on your direct-care workforce
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 14, 2013
If a profession were going to grow so much it could dominate certain employment sectors in the near future, it would only make sense to start focusing more on that profession, wouldn’t it? Long-term...
What is therapy? It’s not as simple as it might seem
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Aug 13, 2013
“What is therapy?” sounds like a simple question, but it requires a separate and very complex answer for each discipline.
Suicide risk in LTC: Effective protocols may not be what you think
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 08, 2013
According to researchers, 11% to 43% of LTC residents have thoughts of suicide, with higher rates in larger facilities and in those with more staff turnover. Other stressors include medical illness, the...