I dealt first with my wife’s Alzheimer’s as a 24/7 caregiver at home, and now as a part-time caregiver and full-time advocate since her placement in the dementia wing of an assisted living...
Creating buy-in for Triple Aim
By
Kristy Wikum
May 12, 2014
Before you can implement policies to help achieve the triple aim, you’re going to need the all-important buy-in from staff. First, let’s look at the triple aim itself and how it benefits consumers.
Addressing quality of death
By
Linda Elizaitis
May 05, 2014
What do you do when a resident crosses the threshold and your organization needs to address quality of death? We all know that there is a great emphasis, appropriately so, on a resident’s quality...
Reducing the threat of carbon monoxide poisoning
By
Betty Norman
Apr 28, 2014
More than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning every year, and fatalities are highest among older adults. Though CO is a threat to every residential facility, long-term care facilities should...
Transforming communities with the household model of care
By
Stephen Proctor
Apr 25, 2014
We can agree on one thing: the traditional model of nursing homes is becoming outdated. Namely, models that involve centralized care management, large commercial kitchens, common therapy spaces, and medicine...
The value of attending national Open Door Forum calls
By
Steven Littlehale
Apr 23, 2014
I often describe the monthly CMS Open Door Forum call as a monthly staff meeting; if you miss the meeting you better read the minutes to see what projects were assigned to you!
What providers can do to counteract negative advertising
By
David B. Pearce
Mar 24, 2014
Plaintiffs’ lawyers use negative advertising for the same reason political consultants do — because it works. And although modern political campaigns seem never-ending, mercifully, there is a defined...
Getting ready for the unthinkable
By
Richard Cheng
Mar 12, 2014
Natural disasters and catastrophic events by definition arise unpredictably and consequently do not remain even in the back of people’s minds on a consistent basis.
Identifying, selecting and installing EHR systems
Mar 10, 2014
The successful deployment of an EHR is too hard and too important to be “part” of someone’s job. An organization must make the commitment to having full-time staff leading the implementation...
Essential steps for treating those with COPD
By
John W. Walsh
Mar 05, 2014
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, presently incurable respiratory illness that is characterized by airflow obstruction. For long-term care professionals, knowledge about every...