4 ways to find out why your aides are leaving

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: 4 ways to find out why your aides are leaving Once, when I worked for a managed care company, I rode down a packed elevator with the CEO, who commented drily on the crowd, saying, “It must be 5:01.” What I thought, but did not say, … Read more

Bicycle Riding for Residents (video)

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Adaptive tandem bicycles allow residents the pleasure of riding a bike and feeling the breeze through their hair. As John Brunow of All Ability Cycles puts it in the video below, an adaptive bicycle event triggers reminiscence, stimulates appetites, and reduces depression. Sounds like a win, win, win to me!

To reduce staff turnover, lead with LTC strengths

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: To reduce staff turnover, lead with LTC strengths When I spoke about the challenges of staff turnover at the Louisiana Nursing Home Association convention last week, I asked the group, “If you were able to bring in the same salary you were currently making, would you … Read more

What’s all this about PBJ? Guest Post by “Miss Emily Litella”

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: What’s all this about PBJ? (Guest post by Miss Emily Litella) So what’s all this about peanut butter and jelly? Emily Mongan wrote the other day that, “Providers could face Five-Star sanctions for late PBJ data.” Why are they keeping track of our peanut butter and jelly … Read more

Wisdom from elders

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Wisdom from elders I’ve learned a lot from listening to residents over the years, but it’s rare that I request specific advice. This month, I decided to change that. In private conversations, I told residents that I was writing an article on advice from elders about … Read more

‘Healthwear’ and other culture changes

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: ‘Healthwear’ and other culture changes My mother has a knack for taking something awkward and, as she puts it, “turning it into a feature.” For example, the previous owners of our family home placed the living room couch in front of a protruding radiator so that … Read more

Reflections on the value of psychology services

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When psychologists provide direct care services to long-term care residents, a note is required for every session, documenting symptoms, therapeutic interventions and other information proving that each and every session is medically necessary. The goals and progress of treatment are reviewed every three months. Audits and case reviews by insurers are not uncommon. Other disciplines in the … Read more

NYTimes: Fashion’s Newest Frontier: The Disabled and the Displaced

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In Fashion’s Newest Frontier: The Disabled and the Displaced, author Vanessa Friedman writes about clothing for people with disabilities, referred to as “healthwear.” Among the items now available are Magnaready‘s clothes with magnetic closures rather than difficult-to-manage buttons, and shirts by Care + Wear designed for people with medical ports so that they can stay … Read more

Racism and LTC

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Racism and LTC A friend of mine called me this week, upset about the racial tension making headlines in the news. We discussed what we could do as individuals to improve the situation. “I called a friend of mine of a different race,” she said. “I … Read more

NYTimes: Too Old for Sex? Not at This Nursing Home

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Food for thought in this New York Times article: Too Old for Sex? Not at This Nursing Home By WINNIE HU JULY 12, 2016 When Audrey Davison met someone special at her nursing home, she wanted to love her man. Her nurses and aides at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale did not try to stop … Read more