At the end of a long day doing skillful and important things for elderly residents, do you ever pause and mutter to yourself, “He won’t get any better. She won’t live much longer. What...
The incredible shrinking brain
By
Gary Tetz
May 28, 2020
For those of you seeking a different coping path through this pandemic, might I suggest walking, gardening, swimming or dancing. I say this because a new preliminary study suggests that people who do those...
Achieving best practice in a data-driven birthday environment
By
Gary Tetz
Nov 14, 2019
That’s right, it’s my birthday. I’ll pause just long enough for you to feel bad about not yet wishing me a happy one.
Care like the tire man
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 02, 2012
It wasn’t the worst start I’ve ever had, but it wasn’t good. My wife woke up sick and my dog woke up whining, or maybe it was the other way around. It’s all such a blur.
Naked crowd-funding — the salvation of long-term care
By
Gary Tetz
Apr 10, 2015
Crowdfunding isn’t the only way to raise money for a good cause, though it has recently netted one provider 60 televisions. Nudity is also an ever-attractive option.
Elf solves LTC staffing crisis
By
Gary Tetz
Dec 14, 2017
November 28 is ruined for me now. Thanks, CMS. For years, I’ve been celebrating it as the fateful day in 1443 when Albanian George Kastriotis Skanderbeg and his forces liberated Kruja in Middle Albania...
Surviving the night shift
By
Gary Tetz
Oct 06, 2016
In a new study highlighted by McKnight’s, more than 60% of night shift workers reported “poor sleep quality, insomnia and impaired sleep-related activities of daily living.” Reading those...
Stop thinking — and eat a mango
By
Gary Tetz
May 22, 2014
Everyone struggles with who they are and their purpose in life. Whatever you do — whether you’re a long-term care administrator, director of nursing, med aide or maintenance associate — you’re...
Journey of Heroes deserves showing, not telling
By
Gary Tetz
Dec 15, 2016
Every year about this time, I tell you eagerly and often weepily about “The Trip.” The one where 12 veterans, many of them from World War II and living in long-term care, get to hop on a plane...
This smart pill is hard to swallow
By
Gary Tetz
Nov 30, 2017
Reading the disturbing news in McKnight’s about the ingestible digital antipsychotic pill that tracks patient data has me all befuddled. I wish I could swallow a pill that would tell me how to feel...