The ‘single’ boom: problems and solutions for long-term care
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 27, 2012
Demographic trends suggest we need to prepare for increasing numbers of residents without close relatives. Here are four ways we can expect this shift to impact our residents, and suggestions for how we...
AI: Living in the future
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Oct 17, 2023
Artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare is a rapidly growing field that has the potential to revolutionize the way medical professionals diagnose and treat patients. The use of AI algorithms and machine...
What’s the buzz? The unpleasant sound of alarms in long-term care facilities
By
Diana Waugh
Oct 20, 2010
Nursing homes may have cut down on their use of restraints, but they continue to use alarms, which are just as harmful to residents’ well-being.
Tapping the power of therapeutic music in long-term care
By
Carol Orsborn, Ph.D.
Apr 22, 2013
You know the music you love personally, and how listening to a certain song makes you feel. But how can you tap the power of music to simultaneously enhance the lives of the many people in your and your...
I saw the (nursing home) sign: A counterpoint
Jan 17, 2014
Saying that you want to be a good neighbor and acting like one are two very different things. There are teachable moments for other administrators looking at the Bel-Air nursing home sign argument.
Nursing home therapy dogs: courage givers, door openers and conversation starters
By
Kevin R. McMahon
May 11, 2009
A Labradoodle named Daisy has brought hours of love and affection to the residents of The Merriman in Akron, OH. Her impact has inspired a project to increase the presence of dogs and owners in institutional...
Contending with life passages
By
Julie Thorson
Aug 17, 2017
With each life passage we gain more perspective and experience. For that reason alone we should learn from those who are older than us. I have never been more aware of that than this week.
Active-shooter tips from a survivor — how to respond ‘when seconds count’
By
Jul 25, 2017
Betty Brunner was sitting down to an appointment at her hair stylist one morning and the next thing she knew, she was diving for the floor, trying to avoid a crazed gunman. Brunner miraculously escaped...
The 21st Century SNF: two paths forward
By
Anne Tumlinson
Jun 11, 2018
Many industry experts believe skilled nursing’s current marketshare challenges are temporary — that SNFs only have to hang on until demographic shifts kick in. But I worry about this strategy.
Screening workers for criminal convictions
Apr 15, 2015
Advocates have proposed removing the requirement that applicants disclose their criminal conviction records on initial applications for employment (“banning the box”) in the hope that otherwise-qualified...