According to their website, The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care is “the leading national voice representing consumers in issues related to long-term care, helping to ensure that consumers are empowered to advocate for themselves.” This Friday, February 3rd from 9am-3pm ET, The Consumer Voice is taking to Facebook to discuss mental health issues … Read more
Check out my latest article, featured in Long-Term Living Magazine Online: Click-clack. Click-clack. The administrator’s shoes made a sound distinctly different than the rubber-soled heels of the nursing staff, alerting everyone to a foreign presence. Forced smiles and stiff greetings ensued. As the elevator doors closed, and the administrator disappeared behind them, the line staff … Read more
Today’s post is courtesy of dietitian Wendy Wu, R.D., M.S. For more from Wendy, check out her blog at http://happydietitian.wordpress.com 25 Things You Learn When Working in a Nursing Home — Humor Intended 1. Positive attitude works wonders. Have a sense of humor. 2. Hand-washing saves lives. 3. A patient asking the same question … Read more
I hadn’t been on the North wing of the nursing home in a while, and when I saw Juanita Johnson sleeping in a geri-recliner, I turned to the nurse, aghast. “I barely recognized her! She’s lost so much weight!” “I know. It’s terrible,” the nurse replied. “We’re having her evaluated by hospice today.” Ms. … Read more
A 2011 study by Australian researchers focused on the use of humor to reduce agitation in nursing home residents with dementia. The Sydney Multisite Intervention of SmileBosses and ElderClowns (SMILE) study investigated the effect of providing humorous interactions with residents through the use of a character dressed like a bellhop, who kindly jokes with participants. … Read more
As 2011 draws to a close, I’d like to thank my readers for joining me here at My Better Nursing Home. I’m especially thankful to those who shared their thoughts and experience via Comments on my posts, wrote to me via the Contact link, tweeted, FaceBooked, Linked me In and otherwise connected. You add depth … Read more
Check out my article on the 10 anticipated psychosocial needs of baby boomers, now a web feature on Long-Term Living Magazine online. 10 anticipated psychosocial needs of baby boomers Consider these changes as LTC adapts to the next generation by Eleanor Feldman Barbera, PhD We’ve heard the rumblings of the coming generation in the voices of … Read more
“I watched them take my father into the ambulance on a stretcher, and it was then I realized that my mother didn’t make it.” The TV was blaring as I entered the room for my session with Grace, who was being treated for depression. “WHAT are you listening to?” I asked Grace incredulously, feeling my … Read more
She sat quietly in her wing chair, lost in thought . Hearing my knock and spying me standing in the doorframe, she sighed. “You might as well come in, but I have nothing to say.” “That’s what you tell me every week, and then you talk my ear off!” I teased her. She smiled. “That’s … Read more
This post, along with last week’s and my Planning for the Holidays article, could be printed out and left for family members in a prominent location. Think of it as your gift to every nursing home family. To add to last week’s post on Holiday Gifts for Nursing Home Residents, here are more gift ideas from … Read more