Residents bust a move (but not a hip) at their Senior Prom
By
Mary Gustafson
May 17, 2012
As a lowly high school student, I was never able to muster up much enthusiasm for the prom. Dancing in public? “Ewww… ,” my 17-year-old brain responded, more often than not.
Your big fat Greek retirement community
By
Mary Gustafson
Oct 25, 2012
The New York Times Magazine article “The Island Where People Forget to Die” describes a Greek island that has the healing properties of the island from the TV show “Lost” and all...
They work hard for their money
By
Mary Gustafson
Mar 01, 2012
There has been an onslaught of news stories lately about the “graying” of America’s workforce. Many of them, however, fail to mention that some older Americans enjoy working beyond the...
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...
YouTube channel delivers with show about daughter’s wrenching decisions over aging mom
By
Mary Gustafson
Sep 27, 2012
My expectations were pretty low when I first saw a press release about “the #1 scripted drama series on YouTube” called “Ruth & Erica.” The Internet-only show follows a “woman...
Nursing: the happiest job in the world … or not
By
Mary Gustafson
Aug 02, 2012
Even if I hadn’t been raised by a nurse, and even if I didn’t write about the basic functions of their jobs on a daily basis for McKnight’s, I would probably still idolize them. That...
A band for every nursing home
By
Mary Gustafson
Jul 19, 2012
Nursing home residents — especially long-term residents — deserve to have the best entertainment that money can buy. Gary Gamponia, the director of the Los Angeles-based Pay It Forward jazz band, has...
Hollywood rescues long-term care
By
Mary Gustafson
Oct 18, 2012
I’m being completely honest when I say that, in general, I do not have a problem with celebrities who crusade for charitable and humanitarian causes. I really don’t — Angelina Jolie, Sean...
The Girl Scout Law, a gem for the ages
By
Mary Gustafson
Mar 15, 2012
I suspect there’s one task that unites us all: ordering, distributing and systematically demolishing a box (or two, or three …) of Girl Scout cookies.
Fixing the empathy gene
By
Mary Gustafson
Feb 09, 2012
If you are reading this, you likely work in long-term care and probably are skilled at empathizing with others. But you might have a coworker who doesn’t seem to “get it” yet.