For long-term care operators, every day is Labor Day
By
John O'Connor
Sep 04, 2018
Hope you had a nice Labor Day. For most of the country, it comes around once a year. But if you are leading a long-term care organization, it’s pretty much an everyday event.
Our new health secretary is making big plans, at your expense
By
John O'Connor
Feb 13, 2017
On Friday, Dr. Tom Price was sworn in as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Long-term care operators should cast a wary eye toward the new HHS boss for two reasons: Medicaid and...
The nursing home survey system is about to get a much closer look
By
John O'Connor
Aug 29, 2014
You had to know this was coming. Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that many nursing homes are submitting massaged staffing and quality indicator data to the feds. The alleged reason? So facilities...
Lessons learned from long-term care lawsuits
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jan 02, 2014
Despite one’s best intentions for 2014, there will be days when you feel like you are failing your residents, your coworkers, your family or yourself.
Conquering the many clichés of aging
By
Mary Gustafson
Jun 14, 2012
A study on the perceptions of aging give us insight into why certain 30-somethings bemoan their lost youth, while long-term care residents stay young at heart.
Former nursing home aide writes powerful poems
By
Tim Mullaney
Jan 07, 2014
Janice N. Harrington worked as a nursing home aide in college, and she drew on that experience to write “The Hands of Strangers: Poems from the Nursing Home.” This book-length collection of...
More proof that laughter is the best medicine
By
Jul 12, 2016
Improvisational comedy may not be among your facility’s go-to lineup of activities, and understandably so. But the same reasons that make improv scary to some — I know, I’ve done it — may...
Power to the people? That could mean trouble
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 13, 2013
There are plenty of legal concerns that keep nursing home administrators awake at night. Many times, the demons can be kept under the bed or locked in the closet. But not always.
Nursing homes’ quality campaign shows promise
By
Liza Berger
May 08, 2009
Nursing homes can pat themselves on the back this week. At least, nearly 7,400 can. That is the number of facilities participating in the Advancing Excellence Campaign, an initiative supported by both...
Wearing the bull’s eye not much fun
By
John O'Connor
Jun 25, 2012
If you are a skilled care operator, it might seem as if a big target has been placed squarely on your back.