If Bill Clinton added “M.D.” after his name, slung a stethoscope around his neck and started visiting the residents in your nursing facility, there’s a chance that your residents might...
When caregivers aren’t human
By
Mary Gustafson
Mar 22, 2012
If you can speak authoritatively about long-term care robots in social conversation, people tend to snap to attention. I can.
Andy Rooney and Grandpa Gus
By
Mary Gustafson
Nov 07, 2011
When I found out Andy Rooney died over the weekend, I was unexpectedly saddened. For me, Andy Rooney represents my fondest thoughts about my own grandfather. He died from congestive heart failure, after...
YouTube channel delivers with show about daughter’s wrenching decisions over aging mom
By
Mary Gustafson
Sep 27, 2012
My expectations were pretty low when I first saw a press release about “the #1 scripted drama series on YouTube” called “Ruth & Erica.” The Internet-only show follows a “woman...
Musings on moving
By
Mary Gustafson
Aug 30, 2012
For the last week I’ve tripping over cardboard boxes, but landing, safely, on mounds of bubble wrap. It’s the end of the month, and like many apartment- and office-building dwellers, I’m...
Design Decisions: It’s ‘a culture of caring’
By
Mary Gustafson
Jan 03, 2011
Nursing home incorporates elements of Asian culture into the design of its remodeling efforts to make it feel more like home
Design decisions: Design as a matter of faith
By
Mary Gustafson
Dec 01, 2011
A new multi-faith chapel at one Florida continuing care retirement community provides enlightenment for believers and non-believers
All roads lead to home
By
Mary Gustafson
Feb 01, 2012
One facility’s new wandering garden assists caregivers by ensuring residents don’t get lost while exploring the space’s sights and sounds.
iPods coming to an eldercare facility near you
By
Mary Gustafson
Jul 26, 2012
When I first spoke with Music & Memory founder Dan Cohen last year, he had big plans for his new program that would put iPods with personalized playlists in Alzheimer’s and other dementia patients’...
Eldercare that blossoms
By
Mary Gustafson
Oct 01, 2011
Seemingly small changes to a garden patio have a huge impact on the residents and their caregivers at one California nursing home.