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.
When the caregiving glass is half-empty
By
Elizabeth Newman
Mar 13, 2012
The prevailing wisdom in healthcare is that a family member’s inability to accept a loved one’s impending death or a dire prognosis relates to miscommunication. A new study turns this on its...
Catheters, infections and … you don’t want to know
By
Elizabeth Newman
Mar 06, 2012
Urinary catheters were on my radar twice last week. The first involved a late-night trip to the vet with an unhappy cat. The second, a political animal.
Recipes with something missing
By
John O'Connor
Jan 27, 2012
President Obama delivered his third State of the Union address Tuesday night. I’ll let the professional scorekeepers decide whether his hour-long presentation was up to code. My take is that the...
Heavenly intercession for the CLASS Act?
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 22, 2011
The good news is politicians can always change their minds. The bad news is, well, politicians can always change their minds. That must be the mixed feelings that many providers — Larry Minnix and his...
Pave the way for all
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 15, 2011
Eye-opening is the only way to describe results of a new study by Brown University researchers into eldercare usage patterns. In brief, they found that minority residents have been entering nursing homes...
Accountable care brings a bundle of pay concerns
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 20, 2011
If there were any doubt, you can erase it now: If you’re a long-term care provider, you MUST make sure you are ingrained in whatever form accountable care organizations take near you in the future....
Heroes’ welcome gets rave reviews
By
James M. Berklan
Apr 05, 2011
The Assisted Living Federation of America did it right today: It gave the profession five major reasons to be proud of itself. The pride comes in the form of individuals who were celebrated as ALFA’s...
A freeze then a burn?
By
James M. Berklan
Mar 24, 2011
News that nursing home ratings are going to be frozen on the federal website for consumer research drew a lot of interest from providers this week. And it should have.
Of admissions, knitting and bandwagons: CLASS danger
By
James M. Berklan
Feb 23, 2011
Supporters of the CLASS Act were cringing this week, just as they were two weeks ago when McKnight’s reported on some loaded remarks from the nation’s Medicare and Medicaid top overseer.