Motivating staff

Home, small home

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Home, small home In 2014, I wrote, “I finally visit a Green House (and it blows my mind).” The Green House is designed with a spacious common area, private bedrooms and showers, unobtrusive medical items and universal workers practicing person-centered care. The model shows that it’s … Read more

You and your staff are very different: Use it to your advantage

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: You and your staff are very different: Use it to your advantage I often speak with healthcare groups, giving psychological insights about a variety of issues within long-term care. Sometimes I address a C-suite audience; other times I train direct care staff. I noticed during the … Read more

Why (culture) change is so hard and what to do about it

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Why (culture) change is so hard and what to do about it The team huddled around the nursing station talking in panicked whispers after the management meeting ended. “How do they expect us to do that?” a young nurse wondered. “Yeah,” an aide replied, “we’re stretched … Read more

On power, teamwork and communication

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: On power, teamwork and communication Having enough of it at work, I tend to avoid drama in my entertainment choices unless it involves aliens or post-apocalyptic nonsense. My family and I are currently enjoying the creative spectacle of Project Runway “Teams” version from a few seasons … Read more

Remember to breathe

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Remember to breathe I was putting the finishing touches on my article for this week’s column when I paused to consider the headlines on McKnight’s right now. “Don’t be worried about Medicaid funding, be very afraid,” advises Editorial Director John O’Connor. Staff Writer Emily Mongan alerts … Read more

10 ways to incorporate mood-boosting exercise into LTC

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: 10 ways to incorporate mood-boosting exercise into LTC Cold weather. An uncertain world. Rogue shrinks making the rest of us caring, diligent professionals look bad. I don’t know about you, but I need a mood lifter. I came across an article that suggests that exercise of … Read more

Playing the LTC lottery

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Playing the LTC lottery After reading a recent New York Times Opinion piece about the uses of lotteries to solve social problems, I began contemplating their potential application to long-term care. According to “For Better Citizenship, Scratch and Win,” lotteries have been used to encourage voting, … Read more

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

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

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