New initiatives needed to build skilled caregiver workforce
By
Alice Vestergaard, Ed.D
May 05, 2012
The aging of the American population and the healthcare issues that go with it are creating a demographic earthquake that will shake our current system of healthcare to the core. We are on our way to becoming...
Let’s change ‘Activity Director’ to ‘Chief Experience Officer’
By
Anthony Cirillo
Nov 29, 2011
Back in Philadelphia, I was a hospital executive who moonlighted as a musician and singer in bands, casinos and nightclubs. When I tired of the band scene, I was looking for an outlet for my musical talents...
iPads for health services directors
By
Silva K. M. Gerety, MPA, MSN, RN, NEA - BC, NHA
Feb 01, 2012
In my many years of practicing nursing and providing care for seniors, it’s exciting to see how new technology can make the lives of those in our profession easier and more satisfying. I’m...
The ‘single’ boom: problems and solutions for long-term care
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 27, 2012
Demographic trends suggest we need to prepare for increasing numbers of residents without close relatives. Here are four ways we can expect this shift to impact our residents, and suggestions for how we...
Building a dining staff team has yielded long-lasting results
By
Patrice Griffiths
Mar 16, 2010
Our dining department, which struggled with a communication gap, is now a stronger, more cohesive unit. The journey to get there has been educational and rewarding.
When formulating advance directives, the more detailed the better
By
Ira Rosofsky
Jun 10, 2009
Advance directives such as “do not resuscitate” and “comfort measures only” do not provide sufficient guidance with more complicated end-of-life situations.
Changing the conversation: How Americans talk, think and feel about aging
By
Bruce Chernof, M.D.
Jun 01, 2011
In my 25 years as a physician, I’ve never heard anyone describe themselves as a “functionally impaired patient with chronic multiple conditions,” a “long-term care recipient”...
How to prepare for your next Medicare audit
By
Dr. Kenneth Kei Adams
Aug 10, 2009
The federal government is looking closely at how post-acute providers, such as skilled nursing facilities, spend Medicare dollars. SNFs should know their operations and understand real outcomes before...
Using technology to fuel innovative service to older adults
By
Denise Rabidoux
Jan 20, 2012
We are at a critical point in long-term care. The perfect storm is upon us: baby boomers hitting 65, the decline of the U.S. economy and housing market, increasing healthcare costs that demand we rethink...
Difficult transitions: Coping with a loved one’s move to a nursing home can be anguish-ridden
By
Dr. Jules Rosen
Mar 04, 2009
Family members frequently experience high anxiety and stress when their loved ones move into long-term care facilities. As a result, nursing homes should take a more active role in promoting family education.