Staffing

Tackling the troubled LTC facility

Joining an organization with problems can “make or break” a new administrator or DON. This could be an opportunity to become a hero, not only to the organization but to the residents as well. Read More »

One-on-one with… Dianne Timmering

Long-Term Living talks with Dianne Timmering, vice president of spirituality at Signature HealthCARE, about how Signature has revamped its corporate culture and employee retention strategy while providing spiritual support for its residents. Read More »

How LGBT-friendly is your LTC community?

As the baby boomer generation ages, long-term care is seeing an emergence of care facilities and policies that are designed to bring care equity to residents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. How have you taken proactive steps to make sure your caregivers are educated in cultural acceptance? Read More »

No mandatory overtime for nurses in 17 states

In early August, Massachusetts became the 17th state to protect registered nurses from mandatory overtime. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick signed a healthcare law that identifies restrictions. In California and Missouri, regulations contain provisions for mandatory overtime. Read More »

The cultural diversity challenge

To address cultural differences, many organizations make an effort to learn about the cultural practices of the different groups represented in the community. But sharing our cultural norms isn’t enough. What is most important to addressing the challenges of difference is to create a culture of respect, where each person feels valued and accepted. Read More »

5 ways to improve your hiring process

Better interviewing leads to better short-lists, and ultimately to better new employees. Rebecca McNeil, educational content manager at HealthcareSource, a provider of healthcare HR software, shares some strategies for finding new employees that truly match the culture and quality of your facility. Read More »

Nursing home cutbacks could tally $65 billion over next decade

The unfortunate overlap of multiple payment-reduction laws and regulations could add up to $65 billion less for skilled nursing home budgets over the next 10 years, according to nationwide data released today. Read More »

AHIP: More companies choosing high-deductible health plans

A low-premium, high-deductible health plan used to be viewed as "the single consumer's plan." Now, high-deductible plans are a favorite of employers, especially for large-group coverage. Read More »

LeadingAge launches financial assessment and referral service

LeadingAge has started a financial and legal advice service for its not-for-profit members. Struggling facilities can request an assessment and receive advice from experts for free. Read More »

Family members: 5 ways to turn fault finders into fans

For most families, entry into a nursing home is like being teleported onto a strange new planet. The arrival is often swift and unanticipated, and the customs are foreign and frequently unnerving. Consider what services you can offer to improve the experience of anxious family members. Read More »

Symptoms of depression in hospital nurses are greater than in the general population

Sadly, many hospital nurses are depressed according to a study funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Interdisciplinary Nursing Quality Research Initiative. Read More »

By 2020, 5.2 million more healthcare workers will be needed, study says

However the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, the need for additional healthcare workers at all levels will continue to grow. Read More »

AMA works with insurers to cut medical claim errors

Making the claims processing more efficient, leads to savings and allows physicians to spend more time on patient care and less on payment reconciliations. Read More »

TV show inspires creativity in LTC staff

I admit it. On Sunday nights I watch The Apprentice. Watching the team dynamics and project development is compelling entertainment for me. I recently heard about a CCRC in Spring, Texas, that has adopted the show’s format as a team-building project. Read More »

Opportunities for enhancement

In Texas, an innovative approach by academia and the long-term care industry to improve the culture of long-term care offers CNAs education to improve their skill levels and professionalism. With this background in critical thinking, they can begin to take their first steps on the career ladder. Read More »

Teamwork, communication tied to quality of nursing home care

Nursing homes that foster an environment in which workers feel they are valued contributors to a team of caregivers provide better care to their residents, according to a new study. Read More »

5 team building practices that will make your staff want to stay

When it comes to building a team, forget corporate retreats and singing “Kumbaya” around the campfire. Here are five practical, easy-to-incorporate strategies you can use at your nursing stations starting today. Read More »

Dedicated staff enhances a facility’s reputation

In every walk of life there are people who go beyond the parameters of their job description. Long-term care has no shortage of these dedicated employees who give the best of themselves to the residents they serve. Read More »

Pennsylvania adopts electronic fingerprinting for LTC workers

In Pennsylvania, all applicants to LTC facilities and other agencies that care for the elderly must pass criminal background checks. Read More »

Nursing’s top 10 pressing issues

A newly released book, “The Power of Ten—2011-2013: Nurse Leaders Address the Profession’s 10 Most Pressing Issues,” takes on hot button topics, with input from more than 30 international nurse leaders. Read More »

Direct care, America’s fastest-growing occupation

The growth in home care positions, both home health aides and personal care aides, is expected to far surpass positions for nursing aides, as more elders demand—and states seek to provide—home and community-based services. Read More »

HHS urges healthcare workers to be aware of hepatitis risk

HHS declares May 19 as the first-ever National Hepatitis Testing Day. Millions of Americans carry the virus, presenting a danger to themselves and others. Read More »

Medicaid cuts threaten nursing home jobs

Budget cuts to social service programs at the state and federal levels threaten staffing levels at nursing homes. Read More »

A safe patient handling program pays off

Nurses, CNAs and orderlies miss more days of work due to work-related musculoskeletal disorders than any other group. Nowhere is this truer than in the LTC setting. Read More »

Direct caregivers will comprise nation’s largest workforce by 2020, says PHI

By 2020, direct-care workers in home- or community-based settings are projected to outnumber direct-care staff based in facilities. Read More »

Overtime, inadequate training linked to CNA injury rates, study finds

A study by the Research Triangle Institute explores the reasons associated with CNA injuries Read More »

Nursing home staffing levels tied to increased death rates in good economies

There is an unemployment-mortality link, but the relationship is counter-intuitive. Read More »

What is your mission?

What motivates your employees? What would you imagine generates sustainable high performance in the workplace? If your first guess is money, your guess is wrong. Read More »

Disaster readiness is still an issue, OIG reports

Despite the estimated 92 percent of the nation’s 16,000 nursing homes that have emergency disaster plans, there are still shortcomings, according to a recent OIG report. Read More »

5 secrets your line staff wishes you knew

Do you ever wonder what your staff isn’t telling you? Are you puzzled why, despite all your efforts, the organization isn’t functioning as efficiently as you’d hoped? Here are the secrets the staff won’t say, but wants to—secrets that will transform your facility. Read More »