Dr. El

Suicide prevention in the workplace: What employers need to know

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Suicide prevention in the workplace: What employers need to know With the high-profile deaths this month of designer Kate Spade and chef Anthony Bourdain, the crisis of suicide has been thrust into the spotlight. Suicide deaths in the United States have increased 25% between 1999 and … Read more

Enhancing organizational communication improves outcomes, reduces adverse incidents

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Enhancing organizational communication improves outcomes, reduces adverse incidents McKnight’s Long-Term Care News frequently notes stories about rogue employees engaging in illegal and disturbing behavior and then trying to cover it up after the fact. There are regular reports about intra-organizational systems that fail, leading to wrongful … Read more

To reduce burnout and turnover, improve family-staff relationships

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: To reduce burnout and turnover, improve family-staff relationships Earlier this month, I took some much-needed time off to go on a cruise. I came home to a LinkedIn notification about “The big cost of not taking vacation,” reflecting on a CNN article regarding the vast number … Read more

The ticklish balancing act: Resident rights vs. care quality

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: The ticklish balancing act: Resident rights vs. care quality You know the scenario: A resident wants to eat donuts, but it will send her blood sugar skyrocketing. The staff members aren’t sure whether to let her indulge as part of person-centered care or to insist on … Read more

Why it’s impossible to maintain prior levels of care quality, and what to do about it

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Why it’s impossible to maintain prior levels of care quality, and what to do about it In Editorial Director John O’Connor’s April 16th column, he reported on a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation indicating that increasing numbers of new residents have dementia, are more physically … Read more

The importance of leadership in creating good deaths in LTC

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: The importance of leadership in creating good deaths in LTC In one of the more disturbing encounters I’ve had in long-term care — in a 5-Star deficiency-free nursing home — I offered my condolences to an aide on the loss of a resident she’d cared for … Read more

Using technology to improve care, reduce costs

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Using technology to improve care, reduce costs At Maimonides Medical Center, 24 frail older adults were taught to use laptops so that they could manage their health information from home. The technology facilitated communication between patients and providers and improved the quality of life of participants. … Read more

New perspectives on aging and healthcare

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: New perspectives on aging and healthcare Three new books on aging and healthcare recently crossed my desk, each with completely different takes on our industry. One focuses on ways in which companies, including long-term care organizations, can save on healthcare costs. In another, the author’s insights … Read more

Taking teamwork to a deeper level

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Taking teamwork to a deeper level When we think of teamwork in long-term care, we envision a group of dedicated specialists working together to provide the best care for our residents. They read notes from other disciplines, bounce ideas off colleagues at the nursing station and … 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