Surefire warning signs that you’re living a long-term care nightmare
By
Gary Tetz
May 03, 2018
Have you ever had a long-term care nightmare? Not the waking kind, where some horrifying facility crisis leaves you muttering, “This is a nightmare.” I’m talking about a real one, the...
No reason for the horror of this dining service
By
Gary Tetz
Nov 04, 2014
Food. It’s important. I once foolishly tried to go several weeks without any. I almost died and was finally forced to start eating again. Evidence suggests I overcorrected, so it’s definitely...
The Sasha Experience
By
Gary Tetz
Feb 27, 2014
It’s been a rough day for good customer service, and since you live and work in a profession dependent upon it, I’m sharing these still raw and painful experiences because I believe they’ll...
Would you rather have snakes?
By
Gary Tetz
May 31, 2018
You might think you have problems in your long-term care facility. But ask yourself just one question: Would I rather have snakes?
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....
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...
Almost done
By
Gary Tetz
Feb 04, 2021
“Almost done,” the doctor assured me, as she aimed her laser at my right eye. Then over the next 20 minutes, she said it several more times. By then I knew it was all a cruel deception, meant to distract...
Small talk and FEMA camps
By
Gary Tetz
Feb 25, 2016
It’s getting harder and harder to talk to strangers on planes, now that advancing technology has rudely stripped a primary conversation starter away from all of us who are shy travelers.
No bad ideas, right?
By
Gary Tetz
May 13, 2021
Now that the pandemic is easing, one of my best ideas is probably never going to get the chance it deserves. It involves using the power of natural law to make sure an unvaccinated long-term care resident...