Given certain realities about skilled-nursing facility inspections, we should not be wondering why cheating has occurred. Rather, we should be amazed it hasn’t been more rampant.
They’re knocking … are you answering?
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 03, 2011
A private company with a website focused on family caregivers released survey results Thursday. They detailed how stressful caregiving can be for loved ones. Financial and emotional stress pound these...
Are you prepared? 5 questions you need to know the answers to
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Aug 27, 2013
With all the recent regulatory changes that have come down the line, or are about to, we developed a simple five-question survey that each provider had to ask every therapy employee. If you can develop...
A survey you don’t have to worry about
By
Mary Gustafson
Mar 29, 2012
The quality of nursing home care is improving — and residents and their families are noticing. That’s the message two industry researchers want administrators and caregivers to take away from new...
How soon is soon enough?
By
William Vaughan
Jul 31, 2013
The word “immediate” in the State Operation Manual, Appendix PP – Guidance to Surveyors for Long Term Care Facilities can be interpreted in multiple ways. Determining the timing of interventions...
The star treatment is here to stay
By
John O'Connor
Jul 20, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has just rolled out its latest version of Nursing Home Compare. If your facility garnered five stars, you probably love it. If you received one star, you surely...
The joke’s on her
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 04, 2012
Just about a month ago, I opened a little contest, looking for the best punchline to a joke involving nursing home personnel. We have a winner.
The truth can set you free — or put your long-term care facility out of business
By
John O'Connor
Jan 11, 2013
Journalists generally get all warm and tingly when previously guarded information becomes available. It must be in our DNA. So I should probably be cheering ProPublica’s announcement that the government...
What lurks in long-term care residents’ minds
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 03, 2011
The first rule of any debate, or “heated” discussion, is to know your definitions. If you don’t, not much else matters. With caregiving, it comes down to knowing your people.