What if nursing homes had a ‘well-being budget’?

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: What if nursing homes had a ‘well-being budget’? Last week, New Zealand passed the country’s first “well-being budget,” with billions in funding directed towards mental health, suicide prevention, addiction treatment and combatting poverty. This development had me considering what a “well-being budget” would look like in … Read more

The added value of social workers and psychosocial services

The top recommendation in the April 9 McKnight’s article “Researchers share 6 tips to improve nursing home care for blacks and Latinos” was to include a social worker on staff in the facility. “Great,” a reader commented, but “ask CMS … if they will pay for it.” Perhaps, though better yet, social workers will pay … Read more

Why Five-Star ratings should measure staff retention, not staff ratios

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Why Five-Star ratings should measure staff retention, not staff ratios The Five-Star Quality Rating System reports the results of health inspections, staffing and quality measures. I suggest we replace the current staffing measure with one tracking staff retention. Here’s my logic: The existing staffing score is … Read more

12 steps to starting a new job with serenity

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: 12 steps to starting a new job with serenity In my last column, “How to quit like a shrink,” I outlined ways to exit a nursing home that solidify the connections made there and offer the opportunity for healing. Assuming you’re not independently wealthy, what follows … Read more

How to quit like a shrink

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: How to quit like a shrink Employees leave their positions for many reasons — organizational restructuring, family needs, a better offer — and they exit their jobs in a variety of different ways. Some sneak out quietly so that their coworkers find out only after they’re … Read more

Sleep deprivation and pain

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Sleep deprivation and pain Despite the fact that my search for column inspiration took place at 3 a.m., I chose the topic of sleep deprivation because residents regularly tell me about their own sleep disturbances. They also discuss their pain. Though their aches often keep them … Read more

Severely mentally ill residents: A ‘perfect storm’ creates a SNF wave

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Severely mentally ill residents: A ‘perfect storm’ creates a SNF wave Long-term care facilities are admitting more residents with longstanding psychiatric illnesses. Such individuals enter the nursing home for physical rehabilitation but are difficult to discharge back to the community due to their mental health needs, … Read more

A gift from LTC families

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: A gift from LTC families A study of interactions between families and healthcare providers published in the BMJ this month sparked my interest. It showed that improving communication between the two groups reduced harmful medical errors by 39%. As if that vast reduction in medical errors weren’t enough, … Read more

Healthcare changes that burn me out — and burn me up

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Healthcare changes that burn me out — and burn me up I was recently required to take an online training module on burnout for physicians and allied professionals. It was the first time in 20-plus years that I’d received a formal message about self-care from any long-term … Read more