“Mother!” “Mother, can you hear me?” “Mother, may I have a fried PB&J?” A few weeks ago, I heard these words coming from our youngest. My immediate response was almost visceral, annoyed. “Emmy,...
Knitting a team
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 18, 2024
I can still remember the clicking of needles and the feeling of chunky strands of cotton passing silently between my fingers. It was early in my elementary school epoch, and we tiny people sat cross-legged...
The unstoppable power of an activity director
By
Gary Tetz
Jul 13, 2023
A cherished senior (otherwise known as my dad) was lying in a hospital bed having a horrible day/week/month/year when the recreation therapist showed up. Her name was Tiffany, and along with her...
Long-term care residents can benefit from the Internet, too
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Dec 17, 2008
The Internet can be a fun and therapeutic tool for long-term care residents. Among its uses: teaching residents about diagnoses, providing a social outlet, and serving as a resource for stimulating information.
I rinse out my plastic bags
By
Steven Littlehale
Sep 22, 2017
I rinse out my used plastic bags. Maybe not all the time, but often … I do love our Mother Earth, but that wasn’t driving my behavior.
Restraint-free, sounds good to me
By
Renee Kinder
Aug 31, 2017
Thursday, Aug. 17 was more than just the first day of school for my children. With all five now in school, it was the first day in 10 years during which we did not have a child at home.
Going viral: A day without complaints brings personal discoveries
By
James M. Berklan
Aug 13, 2014
Writers are expected to promote their work, especially blog posts like this, virtually any way they can. But I’ll admit maybe this one isn’t for you. After all, you’re likely working...
Court orders attorney to pay nursing home legal fees in ‘frivolous’ False Claims case
By
Kimberly Marselas
Feb 07, 2024
An attorney who brought a False Claims case against a Mississippi long-term care provider using publicly available — and later disproven — information must pay the facility’s legal fees, a court...
Capping staffing agency pay rates isn’t the answer
By
Eleanor Alvarez
Jan 26, 2022
The staffing crisis in skilled nursing and assisted living centers continues to be a dire situation. As healthcare workers leave the field in record numbers, these centers have found relief by leaning...
Offering continuing education opportunities through your senior living community
By
DeAnn Young
Aug 21, 2012
In addition to interacting with seniors daily, social workers represent a highly skilled audience for senior living professionals aiming to drive traffic to their communities. As seniors and their caregivers...