You work in a difficult profession — long-term care. We all know that. I’m not even going to list the myriad challenges again, for fear of manifesting them into permanence. And yet, if your existence...
The most discouraging words
By
Gary Tetz
Mar 06, 2023
“At your age …” At the beginning of life and near the end, it’s one of the most discouraging phrases any of us are likely to hear.
The underappreciated bartenders of long-term care
By
Gary Tetz
Mar 21, 2024
Before you think poorly of me, let me explain. I was in the bar that afternoon only because I had heard such great things about the nachos. Not buying it? How about this: I was conducting an in-person...
Brave new birthday world
By
Gary Tetz
Nov 16, 2023
What do birthdays have to do with long-term care? Well, I’ve been having them long-term. And at this point, I’ve ceased to care. You probably see that statement for what it is, nothing but bitter bluster....
On Prancer, on Crasher …
By
Gary Tetz
Dec 22, 2022
At this festive time of year, it’s all-too-easy to be charmed and delighted by visions of reindeer leaping from rooftops and scampering across the sky. But before we let such images cloud our judgment,...
Great resume. Now can I have a lock of your hair?
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 20, 2023
When interviewing a prospective long-term care employee, you’re right to be extremely skeptical. In this age of blatant resume deception and social media artifice, reality can be many layers deep. So...
Honoring the humble
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 10, 2023
Apparently, status is ultra-important to me. I just achieved elite standing on my favorite airline, and now I feel like a conquering hero as I move toward the front of the line and triumphantly stride...
The smiling robot
By
Gary Tetz
May 16, 2024
When I was still a prepubescent boy with many questions, never once did my father take me aside and explain how smiles are made. As a result, I’ve always been a terrible smiler, simply because I never...
Ready or not, here I come
By
Gary Tetz
Oct 10, 2023
I strongly suggest you brace yourselves. Get in a positive head space. Sip a soothing cup of tea, or crush a Xanax on your oatmeal. Set a wheelchair near the door, and assign someone sturdy to push it....
Marry for love, or for blood sugar?
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 06, 2023
As a wounded veteran of multiple misguided unions, the McKnight’s headline raised at least one of my eyebrows: “Marriage, acrimonious or not, appears to protect blood sugar levels in seniors.” From...