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...
In the sea of chaos, where do you look for the North Star?
By
Martie Moore
Sep 22, 2023
We often feel overwhelmed as issue after issue lays itself at our feet. Many things must be done and concerns addressed in a leader’s day. Today’s environment in healthcare feels like...
Whose life is it anyway?
By
Jean Wendland Porter
Sep 21, 2023
My family is full of therapists, and most of us work in skilled nursing. My sister, an experienced speech language pathologist, called to commiserate about one of her patients who had difficulty swallowing. ...
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...
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...
A table on the patio
By
Gary Tetz
Sep 07, 2023
Through countless decades, multiple relationships and what feels like dozens of marriages (actually only two, but it’s still early today), this is pretty much the extent of my accrued knowledge: Women...
Staying the course: Lessons from ponies for upcoming Medicare changes
By
Renee Kinder
Aug 31, 2023
There’s a certain kind of magic when watching eq competitions, especially when it involves someone dear to you. Over the weekend, our daughter, Emmy Grace, took part in her first hunter jumper 2-foot...
Trying to reason with hurricane season
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Aug 29, 2023
I’m here in Florida trying to prepare for this hurricane we are supposed to get as I write this. You know, you can do your best to prepare but as you’re scurrying about, knowing it’s hurricane season,...
What does ‘stability’ mean to you?
By
Julie Thorson
Aug 16, 2023
Last month (“Leaders, how stable are you? Really?”), I posed a question related to the word “stability.” I was really impressed with the responses and thought you would appreciate the variety of...
No more lonely nights?
By
Gary Tetz
Aug 10, 2023
No one knows better than long-term care folks the unfortunate toll cognitive decline can take. So if you’re like me, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, you’re always interested in ways to keep your...