Psychologically speaking, it’s healthy to embrace life’s challenges and to find strength and humor within them. I sometimes suggest that residents hold an “open house” party to gather their friends and family members instead of waiting for them to visit. In my post, Having Fun in a Nursing Home, I wrote about how my residents and I … Read more
I’m lucky enough to hear the private perspective of nursing home residents every day, but for those of you wondering what residents really think about living in long-term care, here are some blogs that generously offer their often surprising, sometimes shocking, viewpoints. Straw Flowers, “one woman’s 20+ year journey through the elder … Read more
On Monday, I blogged about a contest to transform “a day in the life of the resident.” I like this contest because it asks staff members for their often-overlooked expertise, and is designed to improve life for the residents, centering the nursing home day around their needs rather than vice versa. I got an update on … Read more
The video clip I posted last week from the movie Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory has “gone viral.” There were well over 6.5 million views as of last Saturday, when I saw the documentary and post-film discussion and spoke with Dan Cohen, the social worker who started the ipod project. Here are … Read more
I always enjoy reading about senior recreation programs that offer options way beyond bingo. Not that there’s anything wrong with bingo, but when it’s my turn, I’ll be looking for a nursing home with a substantial activities schedule. A reader — thanks, RR — informed me of the success of the college-level psychology courses he … Read more
Part Two of a Three Part Series (Part One — The International Center for Long-Term Care Innovation Part Three — Medical Cost Offset: The Role of Psychology at Signature HealthCARE) I wasn’t expecting to write a post on Signature HealthCARE, but I was impressed by what I read during my research on the International Center … Read more
Part One of a Three Part Series(Part Two — Signature HealthCARE: Great Ideas in PracticePart Three — Medical Cost Offset: The Role of Psychology at Signature HealthCARE) The International Center for Long-Term Care Innovation is located in Louisville, Kentucky, among the city’s cluster of healthcare businesses. I had the opportunity to speak with John Reinhardt, … Read more
William Losefsky, Director of Safety, Security & Emergency Management for the New Hampshire State Veterans Home contributed today’s post. I found it very touching, and I’d like to hear more ways in which nursing homes acknowledge the loss of their residents. If you have a ceremony you’d like to share with MBNH readers, please email … Read more
Today I learned of an Indianapolis-based volunteer organization with a mission “to make the dreams of elderly and terminally ill adults come true.” How cool is that? Never Too Late has helped an 88-year old man race around the Indy 500 track, an 83-year old woman go sailing, and a 70-year old man learn to … Read more
Rest in peace, Viv. You will be missed. May 4, 2009 post on nursing home artist Vivian Mae Treadwell Baker August 13, 2009 update