12 steps to starting a new job with serenity

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: 12 steps to starting a new job with serenity In my last column, “How to quit like a shrink,” I outlined ways to exit a nursing home that solidify the connections made there and offer the opportunity for healing. Assuming you’re not independently wealthy, what follows … Read more

McKnight’s Online Expo, FREE, March 27th and 28th 2019

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McKnight’s Online Expo, FREE, March 27th and 28th 2019    Earn 5 Free CEUs at 5 Free webinars Once again, McKnight’s will host its annual online expo, which is a chance to attend a conference without leaving your desk. Register for the conference in advance, and then log in to hear the talks, visit the … Read more

How to quit like a shrink

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: How to quit like a shrink Employees leave their positions for many reasons — organizational restructuring, family needs, a better offer — and they exit their jobs in a variety of different ways. Some sneak out quietly so that their coworkers find out only after they’re … Read more

Sleep deprivation and pain

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Sleep deprivation and pain Despite the fact that my search for column inspiration took place at 3 a.m., I chose the topic of sleep deprivation because residents regularly tell me about their own sleep disturbances. They also discuss their pain. Though their aches often keep them … Read more

Self-care, team-care and an empty well

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Self-care, team-care and an empty well “How’s it going?” I asked Larry, one of the maintenance workers I chatted with from time to time. He didn’t have his usual smile and his wrist was in a brace from a repetitive stress injury. “I’m tired,” he replied. … Read more

Severely mentally ill residents: A ‘perfect storm’ creates a SNF wave

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Severely mentally ill residents: A ‘perfect storm’ creates a SNF wave Long-term care facilities are admitting more residents with longstanding psychiatric illnesses. Such individuals enter the nursing home for physical rehabilitation but are difficult to discharge back to the community due to their mental health needs, … Read more

A gift from LTC families

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: A gift from LTC families A study of interactions between families and healthcare providers published in the BMJ this month sparked my interest. It showed that improving communication between the two groups reduced harmful medical errors by 39%. As if that vast reduction in medical errors weren’t enough, … Read more

Healthcare changes that burn me out — and burn me up

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Healthcare changes that burn me out — and burn me up I was recently required to take an online training module on burnout for physicians and allied professionals. It was the first time in 20-plus years that I’d received a formal message about self-care from any long-term … Read more

Trend #5: Re-Envisioning Long-Term Care

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The American Psychological Association published an article in the APA Monitor on “Trends to Watch in 2019.” I was pleased to see that geropsychology was Trend #5. Read what my colleagues and I have to say in Tori DeAngelis’ piece on Re-Envisioning Long-Term Care.

A hopeful day at LeadingAge 2018

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: A hopeful day at LeadingAge 2018 I headed to the 2018 LeadingAge convention last week looking for a fix of long-term care enthusiasm and that’s exactly what I got. I met up with old colleagues, put faces to voices I’d spoken to for years and wandered … Read more