Nursing home residents — especially long-term residents — deserve to have the best entertainment that money can buy. Gary Gamponia, the director of the Los Angeles-based Pay It Forward jazz band, has...
Rockin’ the (nursing home) casbah
By
Mary Gustafson
Feb 16, 2012
While idly watching the Grammy Awards broadcast on Sunday night, I tried to keep a mostly apathetic eye on various social media networks. It was here that I learned — among other pretty useless information...
The gift of gallows humor
By
Mary Gustafson
Oct 11, 2012
Comedienne Tig Notaro — from what I’ve been able to glean in my relatively brief history as a fan of her comedy — does not appear to have any connection with the long-term care industry. But...
Help a Sister out: In defense of U.S. nuns
By
Mary Gustafson
Apr 26, 2012
I’ve been in awe of Catholic nuns from a very young age. As my family likes to remind me, I even wanted to be one. As I’ve gotten older, my awe has turned into respect and affection.
iPods coming to an eldercare facility near you
By
Mary Gustafson
Jul 26, 2012
When I first spoke with Music & Memory founder Dan Cohen last year, he had big plans for his new program that would put iPods with personalized playlists in Alzheimer’s and other dementia patients’...
Caregivers are going to need a sturdy surfboard
By
Mary Gustafson
Jul 12, 2012
The good news is that the Affordable Care Act has much to offer people with mental illnesses. The bad news is that even with the law’s policies, the U.S. health system is still woefully unprepared...
A survey you don’t have to worry about
By
Mary Gustafson
Mar 29, 2012
The quality of nursing home care is improving — and residents and their families are noticing. That’s the message two industry researchers want administrators and caregivers to take away from new...
The Girl Scout Law, a gem for the ages
By
Mary Gustafson
Mar 15, 2012
I suspect there’s one task that unites us all: ordering, distributing and systematically demolishing a box (or two, or three …) of Girl Scout cookies.
Commencement speech season heats up
By
Mary Gustafson
May 24, 2012
Since I am sucker for celebrity commencement addresses, mid- to late-May is like my own, personal Christmas.
Kittens for the weary long-term care soul
By
Mary Gustafson
Oct 04, 2012
At the start of the so-called Great Recession, I was fortunate enough to have what can only be described as a dream job. For about nine months I worked for a food industry trade magazine covering new product...