Recent Blog Posts
Nursing Home Love Story #4: It’s the Simple Things
When I arrived at Mr. Johnson’s room, he was sitting in the doorway in his wheelchair, frowning at the passersby. He was immaculately dressed as usual, in a button-down shirt and shorts on this hot summer day, looking much younger than his 90 years. Lately he’d been...
Act now to avert a holiday season fiasco
The holidays are typically a busy time for long-term care centers, filled with special activities and extra visitors. Because of the pandemic, this year will be much different. Planning, collaboration, creativity and communication will be needed to create reasonable...
Free webinar 10/28 10:30am ET: Dr. El on Psychological Hardships of COVID-19
Next Wednesday, October 28th, McKnight’s free Online Forum will focus on the impact of COVID-19. Join me at 10:30am ET for “Coping with the psychological hardships of COvID-19 on staff, residents and families.” The afternoon session will address reimbursement...
Nursing Home Love Story #3: Lean on Me
Margaret was a plump 54-year old woman who was skeptical about psychological services when I first approached her. Three sessions later she sat quietly on the edge of her bed, staring down at her legs, her feet not quite touching the floor. “I can’t walk. Every time I...
Contending with employees’ pandemic-related stress
In “Keeping workers will be biggest struggle for nursing homes as pandemic persists, national policy expert predicts,” McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Staff Writer Danielle Brown reports on the staffing problems outlined by Harvard Medical School health care policy...
Nursing Home Love Story #2: Sunshine
“I need you to see Eddie,” the social worker told me. “He keeps throwing himself out of bed and you know how the administration is about falls.” Falls were bad. They get reported to the State. “You hear that moaning down the hall?” she asked. “That’s him. He’s driving...