What’s all this about PBJ? Guest Post by “Miss Emily Litella”

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: What’s all this about PBJ? (Guest post by Miss Emily Litella) So what’s all this about peanut butter and jelly? Emily Mongan wrote the other day that, “Providers could face Five-Star sanctions for late PBJ data.” Why are they keeping track of our peanut butter and jelly … Read more

Wisdom from elders

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Wisdom from elders I’ve learned a lot from listening to residents over the years, but it’s rare that I request specific advice. This month, I decided to change that. In private conversations, I told residents that I was writing an article on advice from elders about … Read more

‘Healthwear’ and other culture changes

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

Reflections on the value of psychology services

When psychologists provide direct care services to long-term care residents, a note is required for every session, documenting symptoms, therapeutic interventions and other information proving that each and every session is medically necessary. The goals and progress of treatment are reviewed every three months. Audits and case reviews by insurers are not uncommon. Other disciplines in the … Read more

NYTimes: Fashion’s Newest Frontier: The Disabled and the Displaced

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

Racism and LTC

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

NYTimes: Too Old for Sex? Not at This Nursing Home

Food for thought in this New York Times article: Too Old for Sex? Not at This Nursing Home By WINNIE HU JULY 12, 2016 When Audrey Davison met someone special at her nursing home, she wanted to love her man. Her nurses and aides at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale did not try to stop … Read more

Super-utilizers: LTC has them too

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Super-utilizers: LTC has them too I was flying home after visiting some family elders last week (a story itself perhaps for another time) when I happened upon a Kaiser Health News article about “super-utilizers” of emergency room services. Research on Medi-Cal, California’s state health insurance for … Read more

Dr. El’s work mentioned on “Last Comforts” blog

I’m pleased to report a nice mention of my work on the blog of journalist Ellen Rand, author of Last Comforts: Notes from the Forefront of Late Life Care. Last Comforts, the book and the blog, focus on improving ways of managing late-life care.  Below is an excerpt of her blog post. The rest can … Read more

Depression – AND its treatments – are fall risks

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Depression – AND its treatments – are fall risks Feeling “down” takes on a wicked double-meaning for some seniors. Even conscientious providers could be unaware of it, let alone know what to do about it. As McKnight’s Staff Writer Emily Mongan points out in “Depression treatments … Read more