It’s easier to have empathy for people if you know specific things about them. Long-term care providers know this, and it is behind many valuable programs to learn more about residents’ lives....
Re-examining obesity in long-term care
By
Elizabeth Newman
Aug 01, 2013
John O’Connor’s blog this week explored the issue of obesity in long-term care facilities,and raised a subtle point around assumptions about people who are obese. Whether they are a coworker...
Green House, Blue Valentine, and the way people talk about long-term care
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 30, 2013
Last week, NPR ran a story lauding The Green House Project — and slamming traditional nursing homes. The piece began with this summary of people’s fears: “One thing just about everyone dreads...
Act your age — or don’t: Theater as therapy in long-term care
By
Tim Mullaney
Jul 25, 2013
If you work in long-term care, it’s easy to become cynical. That’s why I was so glad to talk with Ricardo Pena this week. Pena is running an impressive drama program at Canterbury Care & Rehab...
Insurance, the elderly and what to do next
By
James M. Berklan
Jul 11, 2013
No sane person can criticize someone who admits being confused about how medical insurance should be funded, especially for seniors. Last week, a pair of innocently juxtaposed stories highlighted the struggle...
The long-term care leftovers that earned a warning
By
Elizabeth Newman
Jul 09, 2013
Today in the annals of Nursing Homes That Should Know Better, we turn our attention to a rural part of Tennessee.
Uh-oh, Congress is about to ‘fix’ your hiring problems
By
John O'Connor
Jun 07, 2013
Many providers are hoping immigration reform can help ease the field’s chronic understaffing challenges. But like many problems the government sets out to solve, this one is likely to cause a few...
The need for long-term care to swarm the nation’s capital
Jun 06, 2013
Observation stay legislation and preventing more reimbursement cuts are at the top of the list of those visiting lawmakers.
Lines blur on long-term care for vets, non-vets
By
Tim Mullaney
May 29, 2013
Flags are flown at half-mast only until noon on Memorial Day. I’m guessing this is common knowledge that somehow escaped me until this year. There’s some nice symbolism here. First, the flag...
Catching the wave: It’s becoming easier to get a professional band at your nursing home
By
James M. Berklan
May 22, 2013
Less than a year ago, Gary Gamponia and his benevolent bandmates broke onto the national scene with a McKnight’s blog entry about the way they play concerts at nursing homes for free. Boy, is it...