This month’s column invokes several previous columns, one about medications and the other about knowing if we know what we don’t know. A recent medical journal article concluded that falls in...
How do we know if we know what we don’t know?
By
Steven Levenson
Sep 08, 2023
The amount of knowledge and skill involved in complying with the OBRA regulations is monumental. Every topic, from pressure injury prevention to behavior management, has many tec hnical details and clinical...
Brushing away the risk: The crucial role of daily toothbrushing in preventing hospital-acquired pneumonia
By
Renee Kinder
Jan 18, 2024
A phenomenon that skilled nursing teams have long appreciated was recently highlighted in a recent article published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers Ehrenzeller and Klompas shed light on a critical...
Sharing of the minds
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Feb 27, 2024
In the past three weeks, I have been involved in some great “meeting of the mind” sessions. One was the AHCA/NCAL Quality Awards Silver Team Leader meeting. Prior to and following that one, I attended...
Are you a good shepherd?
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Aug 01, 2023
I think most people are familiar with Psalm 23. It’s the one that starts with “The Lord is my shepherd,” talks about walking in the shadow of death… you know, that one. If you don’t go...
The hypocrisy of staffing mandates
By
Gary Tetz
Oct 19, 2023
Absorbed as you probably are in fighting through the long-term care staffing crisis while parrying a CMS mandate, I wouldn’t blame you for not noticing. But at airports across America, big planes are...
Bad news, it’s worse than we thought
By
Gary Tetz
Feb 08, 2024
A mere couple of blogs ago, I shared my concern, based on excellent McKnight’s reportage, that seniors are becoming just as addicted to their devices as young people. That seemed shocking, given our...
The urgent need for better grief support for SNF management
By
Frances M. Hawes, Ph.D.
Jul 31, 2023
Grief and loss are a natural part of life, and they are particularly prevalent in nursing homes where residents often have advanced age and multiple health conditions. Data from my recent research...
Helicopter Children… or is it more than that?
By
Teresa Geroulo
Sep 25, 2023
In every facility there is at least one family member who tries to take over the care and decision making for their loved one. The term is “Helicopter Children.” Helicopter Children observe their...
It’s painful — and there’s no end in sight
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Sep 12, 2023
So here I am in Florida. I started having pain in my upper right gastric region. Over the course of three days it was getting really intense. Could my primary care provider squeeze me in? Nope. So...