In the now-infamous case of an independent living facility’s policy on CPR, the simple perception is that a woman was dying and needed CPR. Sound and prudent judgment would have been to perform it,...
The high cost of rudeness
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 01, 2015
Given the stresses of caregiving and the complexities of human relationships, incivility happens. But considering the potential impact of rudeness on care, we need to do more to understand and prevent...
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...
How to document for rehabilitation work objectively
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jun 04, 2013
As the scrutiny continues to increase on rehabilitation documentation, finding ways to document objectively has become a major focus for just about everyone involved.
The leadership hangover
By
Julie Thorson
Nov 03, 2016
As we circled in the air over Chicago on Wednesday to hear, “Sorry, folks, we have to go back to Indianapolis because the rain is too heavy for us to get into Chicago,” I thought to myself,...
Understand the resident to understand the behavior: Part 2
By
Richard Juman, PsyD
Jan 08, 2018
I am frequently asked to consult about “inappropriate” behavior in skilled nursing facilities. The question is usually something like: “We have a resident who is doing ‘X behavior’—...
The importance of unlearning
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Jul 10, 2018
Anyone who knows me knows that I love teaching. And while it is one of my greatest pleasures on Earth, it is also one of my greatest frustrations.
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...
The cheese has moved … will Sniff find it?
By
Steven Littlehale
Aug 23, 2017
Imagine my surprise when several people came bearing the shocking news that “the MDS will not matter anymore” and that RCS-1 is “the end of the MDS.” Wait, what? Not on your life!
‘Twas the week after Christmas …
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Dec 29, 2015
‘Twas the week after Christmas, just leaving the home. I steered for my latte, light on the foam. The traffic was tough, so I drove with great care — in hopes my caffeine-fix soon would be there.