Every so often an aide does not show up for work. Usually there is no notice, and he or she is just suddenly gone. That happened on a recent Read More »
Balancing work and life—what is that, anyways? This is often defined as a state of equilibrium in which the demands of both a person’s job and Read More »
Labor is a provider's largest expense, and one that historically has not been managed as well as it could and should be.For many providers, Read More »
In PHI’s recent effort to document how LTC employers are investing in their direct-care workers (a project funded by the Hitachi Foundation), we Read More »
Hiring is often a flip of the coin. In my experience, we strive to hire great people and often they are less than desirable. But every once in a Read More »
The first time I saw a nursing home staff member with a tongue piercing, I shuddered. It looked painful. Since I never thought of having one myself, Read More »
On Orchard Cove’s skilled-nursing floor, urinary tract infections and pressure ulcers have become rare occurrences and medication usage is down. Read More »
You know the drill: It’s ratings week for your local television news stations and that means the most sensational stories will be featured—local Read More »
“I can talk, therefore I communicate.” Wrong! How is the communication in your facility? Do you have a great deal of talking but very little Read More »
One of the hallmark traits of a dedicated individual is his or her desire to revisit a completed work, seemingly compelled to reflect on the minutiae Read More »
Managers in long-term care facilities have multiple responsibilities in the governance and operation of their organizations, and they therefore have Read More »
“You saved my life,” a Redstone Highlands' staff member once exclaimed to John Dickson, president and CEO of this faith-based, not-for-profit Read More »
The “High Five for LTC!” are the things that are needed for each of us in this field to get through the day. Thus far we have visited the first three Read More »
The “High Five for LTC!” are the things that are needed for each of us in this field to get through the day. Last time we looked at #1—Courage. Today Read More »
Organizational culture shapes care in our communities. The concept of preferred view, which we looked at in February's column, p. 16, applies to Read More »
I understand that to work in a nursing home takes a special kind of person. It takes someone who can think on their feet and care on the run. Many of Read More »
Old age is a stage of life in which people are still developing. The Erickson School teaches that organizations that embrace and enact this Read More »
I am on a mission as usual. I walk quickly toward my office, across the crowded lobby of the nursing home where I am Director of Nursing, having just Read More »
One of the things I love best about being a DON is, if I take the time to listen, I can learn great lessons from my certified nursing assistants. Read More »
As noted in the September 2010 issue of Long-Term Living (“Old law-New problem,” p. 32), the U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division has Read More »
In a perfect world, we would all approach December with great anticipation, thinking of that Norman Rockwell Christmas gathering, the opening of Read More »
A quiet, comfortable, well-ventilated, and properly illuminated office will foster more efficiency and accuracy. With the many changes in the Read More »
Healthcare reform-everyone's heard of it and everybody's aware that a sea of change is taking place with respect to healthcare coverage. The 2,400+ Read More »
Susan was recently invited to Australia to speak to the state offices of the Alzheimer’s Association, local providers, and other interested parties Read More »
In a previous column about staff satisfaction, we discussed what common themes are important to staff, as found in numerous staff satisfaction Read More »
A recent question for the Resident Sound-Off feature here on Long-Term Living asked, “What qualities or characteristics make for a good staff Read More »
ACTS Retirement Life Communities (ACTS) has implemented a person-centered care (PCC) initiative throughout its family of 23 continuing care Read More »
