Tips for gifts, visits

Dr. El’s Theory of Angry Activities

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Dr. El’s Theory of Angry Activities “Scream as loud as you can,” I encouraged my companions before we plunged down the waterslide in our rubber raft at the water park on Independence Day. “There aren’t enough opportunities for yelling in everyday life. Let’s make the most … Read more

Enhancing quality of care through design

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Enhancing quality of care through design Last week, I attended an accessible design symposium at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York City to see what ideas I could use with elders in long-term care. Through listening to the symposium speakers, reading descriptions of works featured … Read more

Enhancing the value of LTC by making family visits more rewarding

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Enhancing the value of LTC by making family visits more rewarding In his Dec. 6 McKnight’s Senior Living column, Editorial Director John O’Connor reported on a senior living center in Jiangsu province in China that offers cash rewards to people who visit their loved ones. Ten … 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

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

Holiday Gifts for Nursing Home Residents

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This post, along with 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.   ~Happy Holidays from Dr. El at MyBetterNursingHome.com With the holiday season upon us, you may be wondering what would make a good … Read more

Take this to the bank: How to reduce money stress for LTC residents (McKnight’s LTC News)

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Take this to the bank: How to reduce money stress for LTC residents It was noon at the nursing home and the staff was busy wheeling residents into the dining room. “Are you going to buy me lunch today?” an aide joked as she unlocked the … Read more