Now that I know I’m not going against State regulations (see Dr. El Goes Undercover with the NYS Department of Health), I’ll confess I love to use my iPhone with the residents. In nursing homes that don’t yet have computer access, the iPhone and other web-enabled mobile devices bring the world right to the residents. … Read more
I asked nursing home residents, or “people of age,” as one resident cleverly put it, about their reaction to the passage of the health care reform bill. They were unanimously in support of the bill, though a few voiced concern about whether the changes would manifest as intended. Here are some of their comments: “I … Read more
Okay, so it didn’t involve a disguise, but I did make an anonymous phone call to the New York State Department of Health. When I interviewed Mark Kissinger, their Deputy Commissioner of Long Term Care recently, he and Jacqueline Pappalardi, the Director of the Division of Residential Services, were friendly and reasonable. They said the … Read more
Today’s story, courtesy of Sandra Cherry, LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist), is a humorous reminder to those of us in long term care to be mindful of jargon and the words we choose when speaking with those new to the nursing home. Today I visited my dad at the nursing home and, as I prepared to … Read more
I peered into Ms. Alford’s room and saw a visitor sitting in the chair next to her bed, where she was sitting with a stack of photos on her lap. Ms. Alford noticed me and waved me into the room with a broad smile. “This here’s my son, Willie.” “And you are?” His worried eyes … Read more
This positive story about long term care is from the perspective of a nursing home administrator/president. If you’d like to add your own good news, please use the comments box at the bottom of the post, or for a possible featured blog post, send me an email using the Contact Me button on the top … Read more
I tend to think of myself as an 85-year old woman, sitting in my nursing home room, reflecting back on my life. It’s an occupational hazard, but one I’m happy about. I take the long view of things, and have embarked on adventures now because I don’t want to be regretful later. The hours I’ve … Read more
Have you ever wondered what nursing home residents discuss with their shrinks behind closed doors? Here I solve the mystery, revealing the types of conversations I’ve had with residents over the years. Feelings about leaving home and being ill. Issues around loss of control and being dependent on other people, with a focus on gaining … Read more
Here’s an interesting article on a brief nursing home stay by a medical student as part of her training. Experiencing Life, Briefly, Inside a Nursing Home By Katie Zezima Published: August 23, 2009 MAMARONECK, N.Y. — For 10 days in June, Kristen Murphy chose to live somewhere she and many others fear: a nursing home. … Read more
In May of this year, I wrote about nursing home artist, Vivian Mae Treadwell Baker, and thought you might like to know what’s transpired since I discovered her wonderful watercolors in her dresser drawer and posted some of them on my blog. The artist moved into a private room, and, with the assistance of her … Read more