Janice N. Harrington worked as a nursing home aide in college, and she drew on that experience to write “The Hands of Strangers: Poems from the Nursing Home.” This book-length collection of...
Want to succeed in long-term care this year? Don’t get too comfortable
By
John O'Connor
Jan 06, 2014
A new year is once again upon us. Among other things, that means you will probably be exposed to more than a few forecasts of the year-ahead-in-long-term-care variety.
CNA speak: Take time to learn the language
By
Lori Porter
Jan 03, 2014
In my 32 years of careful study regarding the divide between administration and certified nursing aides, I have learned many things. One of the most important discoveries is that there are two separate...
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...
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...
For anyone in long-term care, these are uncertain times
By
John O'Connor
Dec 16, 2013
Two questions give senior living leaders countless hours of lost sleep. The first seems fairly objective: What does it take to be successful in this field? The second is about as personal as it gets: Do...
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...
Who wants to be called a worker?
By
Lori Porter
Dec 09, 2013
I have always welcomed change, as I truly believe that growth and progress require it. So, why do I have such a hard time embracing an occupational title change for certified nursing assistants? I guess...
QAPI: Avoiding the cost of non-compliance
By
Bill Lampe
Dec 06, 2013
An initiative that should be top of mind for facilities is the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI), an extension of the Affordable Care Act that is focused on improving quality of care...