A friend of mine had grown concerned about the condition of her mother, who is a resident at a skilled nursing facility in another state. It tears at her heart being so far away, and she doesn’t get...
Some needles of joy
By
Gary Tetz
Jun 06, 2019
My acupuncturist might be the most joy-filled person I’ve ever encountered. Her joy radiates and envelops, filling the room with a contagion of positivity. Even the fact that she’s wielding sharp...
Heroes of another war
By
Gary Tetz
May 01, 2020
Ed was only 16 years old, but when Pearl Harbor was attacked, he rushed to his local Navy recruiting office to enlist, only to be told he was too young to serve in the military.
Peppers and hooch
By
Gary Tetz
May 08, 2015
You are correct. “Peppers and Hooch” does sound like a bad buddy cop show from the ’80s. But in the world of Nebraskan long-term care, the lethal combination could be threatening the...
Lessons from an orphan
By
Gary Tetz
Jun 30, 2016
It’s a disquieting visual I can’t quite get out of my mind — a single hiking boot hanging from a trail sign. Even you, a crisis-tested long-term care professional, might feel surprised and...
My incredible shrinking lifespan
By
Gary Tetz
Oct 14, 2021
With so much still to say to the long-term care profession, I’m realizing I better write fast, because I may not have many years left. Less all the time, according to a study from Oxford University....
Stronger at the broken places
By
Gary Tetz
Aug 19, 2021
Well, here we go again. Within long-term care especially, the shock and discouragement of the delta variant and the havoc it’s wreaking on those we care for and work beside is pervasive and demoralizing. ...
Courage is contagious
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 02, 2020
Facility staff have no idea if catching COVID-19 will be merely an annoyance or a life-threatening battle, a parking ticket or a death sentence. But still, they go.
Face touching for dummies
By
Gary Tetz
Mar 05, 2020
Can you remember a public health directive than “don’t touch your face” that’s ever been more simple, clear and science-based, yet more difficult to execute? I can’t.
Sure, you’re smart. But how well do you merge?
By
Gary Tetz
Feb 21, 2019
Isn’t finding a long-term addition to the team mostly about the culture and the fit? That’s why it’s imperative to find out how he or she is likely to behave on a freeway on-ramp (or office hallway).