In the past three weeks, I have been involved in some great “meeting of the mind” sessions. One was the AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards Silver Team Leader meeting. Prior to and following that one, I attended...
No place for a pessimist
By
Gary Tetz
Feb 22, 2024
My new co-worker’s eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation when he said it, like a child on Christmas morning expecting to find a Red Ryder BB gun under the tree. “I love...
Skilled nursing care’s cloudy Medicare future
By
Brendan Williams
Aug 18, 2023
A net gain of $1.4 billion for a sector comprised of over 15,000 nursing homes somewhat pales in comparison to a looming CMS staffing mandate estimated to cost nursing homes $11.3 billion a year.
No more lonely nights?
By
Gary Tetz
Aug 10, 2023
No one knows better than long-term care folks the unfortunate toll cognitive decline can take. So if you’re like me, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, you’re always interested in ways to keep your...
Advice from a recovering pessimist
By
Gary Tetz
Sep 30, 2021
Who am I to be giving advice? I have no proficiency in PDPM, MDS, CQI, RUGs, ISNPs or any other intimidating or indecipherable acronym. No one is begging me for my thoughts on staffing or infection control....
The lingering question
By
Julie Thorson
Feb 03, 2021
Isn’t it interesting how in January new ideas are so exciting? Then in February, life’s hits keep coming, and there are those, “What was I thinking?” moments. Well, guess what? I’m only slightly...
Enhancing resident independence
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 02, 2019
As we celebrate our freedoms in the country this week, perhaps we can consider ways in which to create a better balance between the need to provide a safe environment for residents and their right to make...
Eclipse envy
By
Gary Tetz
Aug 24, 2017
Like it had just pulled an emergency triple-shift, while simultaneously serving as DON, CNA, cook, laundry assistant and defense attorney. That’s how the sun looked as I drove to work Tuesday morning...
The Hiker’s Guide to the Long-term Care Galaxy
By
Gary Tetz
Jul 27, 2017
Much of what I know about success (or failure) in life, love and long-term care has been reinforced by lessons learned over years of hiking. As a result, I now take it as a point of professional pride...
Short-handed or short-sighted?
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Feb 15, 2017
When we communicate that we are having staffing issues, whether or not that communication is correct, we are telling the residents and their families that we can’t do our jobs.