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Fixing the empathy gene

February 09, 2012

If you are reading this, you likely work in long-term care and probably are skilled at empathizing with others. But you might have a coworker who doesn't seem to "get it" yet.

What a week for New Jersey. It started with the pro football team that has its roots there winning the Super Bowl, and it's going to end with a first-in-the-nation effort by the state's assisted living providers.

It's been a hard day's day

February 07, 2012

Providers have one big reason to cut back on overtime: It can lead to a hemorrhage of money. But now there's another: It could make your employees depressed.

Where have you gone, concurrent therapy?

February 06, 2012

Five years ago, about a quarter of all nursing facility residents were receiving rehab care in concurrent therapy sessions. These days, almost none do. But it's not hard to see why this service option has essentially dried up.

Peace is hell

February 03, 2012

On Thursday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke delivered some tough-love testimony about rising healthcare costs and our shrinking Treasury. This would be very sobering news indeed — if an easy answer weren't right at our fingertips. All we have to do is start a war ... and fight it with retirees.

When residents attack

February 02, 2012

Winter, especially in colder climates, can take a toll on anyone's mood. The cure for one upstate New York assisted living community is an unconventional one: a good old-fashioned snowball fight.

The worst kind of reality show

February 01, 2012

All we wanted was a nugget, a morsel, a few bread crumbs maybe. And this is what we got instead? Lord, help us.

Handling your PR crisis

January 31, 2012

A few months ago, I called up a nursing facility that was embroiled in a legal snafu. I'm not sure I was able to utter an audible response to its marketing representative since I was busy hitting my palm against my forehead.

A survey system that works?

January 30, 2012

All sides generally agree that the current nursing home survey system is flawed. But there's hardly consensus on how best to fix it. Here's something worth considering.

Recipes with something missing

January 27, 2012

President Obama delivered his third State of the Union address Tuesday night. I'll let the professional scorekeepers decide whether his hour-long presentation was up to code. My take is that the evening showcased two missed opportunities.

Vow to hire veterans for long-term care

January 26, 2012

In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Obama proposed the creation of a Veterans Job Corp to curb high unemployment rates for returning veterans. That's opportunity knocking for long-term care providers.

Celebrating a non-tragedy

January 25, 2012

I believe there are good news stories around us all the time. Our eyes, and brains, often are just too conditioned and look past them. It's human nature. Consider this small-town long-term care story that earned scant attention, even in the local press.

Having 'the talk' with residents

January 24, 2012

For all the innuendos and images surrounding sex in our society, it's a topic that many long-term caregivers are reluctant to bring up with residents and their family members.

(Oval) Office politics and private equity

January 23, 2012

It was nearly four and a half years ago that The New York Times caused quite a stir in this sector. That's when the self-proclaimed newspaper of record ran a largely unflattering piece about private equity firms that own nursing homes.

These replies worth a million

January 20, 2012

Life Care Centers of America regularly publishes a magazine called LifeMatters. The publication never fails to inform and inspire. One of my favorite pages is called "Resident Voices." Here, customers from various Life Care communities weigh in on a specific question.

Shuffling down the aisle

January 19, 2012

For anyone who's in the trenches caring for someone with Alzheimer's — either in your own home or a long-term care community — the announcement of government initiatives aimed at finding a cure might not excite you too much.

The spotlight is back on the pharmacy fuss

January 18, 2012

If there's anything the Golden Globes awards show taught us again Sunday night it is this: When big people talk, they make inordinately loud noise, no matter how high the volume on their microphones may be. Expect some loud noise soon in the long-term care arena over Omnicare's hostile takeover bid of rival PharMerica.

Barking up the right tree

January 17, 2012

Nursing homes come to the rescue of elderly loved ones every day. But a story out of Springfield, IL, shows they can also come to the aid of our furry friends.

Days of whine and roses

January 16, 2012

We've heard much lately about the so-called 99 Percenters. Many in this crowd have made the startling discovery that the nation's wealthiest people seem to have more money and options.

Making the numbers work

January 13, 2012

I prefer not to think of myself as an angry person who gets annoyed by every little thing. I'm much more comfortable seeing myself as an angry person who gets annoyed by little things with the power to infuriate.

I can't get no-o-o-o ... satisfaction

January 12, 2012

Anyone who works in long-term care or aging services — or who writes about it every day — likes to see headlines like this: "Sexual satisfaction highest in oldest, youngest women, study says." Headlines and research in that vein appeal to us for a couple reasons.

These calendars offer more than days to remember

January 11, 2012

Long-term care operators have produced a variety of clever, attractive calendars through the years. The illustrations have even shown simulated naked poses, with strategic signage saving the viewer from the "Full Monty" experience.

Note the thank-you

January 10, 2012

When it comes to "thank you," what is written is often right.

The Sorting Hat and a new option

January 09, 2012

If you have relatives between the ages of 10 and 20, chances are good that you are more familiar with Harry Potter than you care to admit. J.K. Rowling wrote seven novels that chronicle Harry's good-versus-evil adventures at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Take my advice, please

January 06, 2012

One of the perks of working in this field is that there is no shortage of people or agencies willing to tell you exactly what to do.

We all have stories

January 05, 2012

I recently stumbled on one of the most captivating obituaries I've ever read. It chronicled the life of a woman named Lana Peters, who died in a Wisconsin nursing home. The reason her death made The New York Times shortly after Thanksgiving? She was the last surviving child of Josef Stalin.

This long-term care 'Leader' is just that

October 25, 2011

There are certain times in your life when you reach your limit, and I hit one today. I just don't think I can put up with it any longer.

A time for pride to take over for nursing homes

September 30, 2011

If you're a long-term care provider reading this in the waning hours before fiscal 2012 hits, be strong. If you're reading this after Saturday, Oct. 1, stand tall.

High-stakes deal just warming up

August 23, 2011

So this is what it comes to when No. 1 attempts to buy No. 2. This could be some pretty lively theater by the time the final curtain drops.

Time to pick your fantasy teams for ... funding

August 12, 2011

Now that we know there will be an NFL season, fantasy football leagues are roaring into shape around the land. I would have loved to be in the "war room" to hear the give-and-take for drafting teams of another kind recently. That would be the Democrat and Republican teams for the Deficit Reduction Super Committee Bowl, er, negotiations. They're going to decide what is to be sacrificed on the way to $1.2 trillion or more in funding cuts over the next decade.

Deficit reduction and long-term care: Enjoy things while you can

August 03, 2011

If you thought the last few weeks of politicians' stomach-turning brinksmanship over the national debt ceiling wasn't fun — and who did? — you have no reason to look forward to the end of November and December.

Heavenly intercession for the CLASS Act?

July 22, 2011

The good news is politicians can always change their minds. The bad news is, well, politicians can always change their minds. That must be the mixed feelings that many providers — Larry Minnix and his faithful crew at LeadingAge foremost among them — carry in their heads right now. It was little over a year ago when President Obama finally signed sweeping healthcare reform into law, and with it the much-debated CLASS Act.

Pave the way for all

July 15, 2011

Eye-opening is the only way to describe results of a new study by Brown University researchers into eldercare usage patterns. In brief, they found that minority residents have been entering nursing homes at a higher rate than previous decades. At first blush, that sounds good.

He's seen the light on name change

June 24, 2011

When the news release opened up on my computer screen, I had come to the realization: I've converted.

Care transitions becoming more crucial

June 17, 2011

It seems the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston ought to be getting a lot more attention from its peers. The center has successfully implemented a multi-pronged approach to lower rehospitalizations.

Coolest website discovered

June 09, 2011

In this era of information overload, I love it when something stops me in my tracks. One of the curses of the Internet, frankly, is it has multiplied the amount of the inane that is publicly disseminated.

About those rats at your facility ...

May 31, 2011

I think we might have caught some of you sleeping not long ago. That's the only way I can explain what happened - or should I say what did NOT happen.

The reaction to ACOs? Ouch!

May 16, 2011

I haven't heard them pronounced this way yet, but long-term care providers might want to consider it when it comes to ACOs. Instead of spelling it out, as in A-C-O, say it phonetically, as in "Ache-O."

Providers grapple with CMS 'rule'

May 03, 2011

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has a lot of long-term care providers shaking their heads. They're not sure they heard one of CMS's latest proposed rules right.

Enjoying the royal touch

April 28, 2011

I'm not entirely sure if it's time to turn in my man-card yet, but I will admit to letting some of this royal wedding stuff get to me more than I would have ever imagined. (Bill and Cathy are getting married sometime around noon their time Friday, which means it's pre-breakfast-time fare for most of us.)

Final assessment: Awards hit the spot

April 26, 2011

There might be a misperception that the folks at AANAC are just a bunch of code-interpreting keypunchers tucked into tiny offices at nursing homes. The truth is that AANAC — the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination — has cast a wider net, and its recent national awards ceremony shows how.

Accountable care brings a bundle of pay concerns

April 20, 2011

If there were any doubt, you can erase it now: If you're a long-term care provider, you MUST make sure you are ingrained in whatever form accountable care organizations take near you in the future. That message came through exceedingly clear from Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, during a free-ranging sit-down Tuesday with reporters.

Keeping your eye on the ball

April 14, 2011

It seems just about every year at this time, political budget posturing really heats up. This leaves front-line providers wondering things like, "So just how is this budget proposal supposed to help me answer three call lights at once?" And "Why should I care about fiscal 2012 when it's 2011 and I haven't had a stable workforce for three years anyway?"

Some in Washington SHOULD be shut down

April 08, 2011

Somebody has an old saying that goes something like this: When elephants fight, only the grass gets trampled. I find that ironically apropos as the nation starts to realize its government might actually shut down at midnight tonight.

Heroes' welcome gets rave reviews

April 05, 2011

The Assisted Living Federation of America did it right today: It gave the profession five major reasons to be proud of itself. The pride comes in the form of individuals who were celebrated as ALFA's 2011 Hero Awards recipients.

Putting quality to the test

March 31, 2011

When it comes to embracing quality, long-term care operators are making great strides. Most seem to realize that many of the old ways of getting the job done don't cut it anymore.

Now this delivers the (LTC) goods

March 28, 2011

There was a time when the arrival of the annual JC Penney's or Sears catalog in the mail was a reason for great excitement. Therein lies the rationale behind the newest creative website to make your professional life enjoyable.

A freeze then a burn?

March 24, 2011

News that nursing home ratings are going to be frozen on the federal website for consumer research drew a lot of interest from providers this week. And it should have.

The way to really fly

March 21, 2011

At 6-foot-7 inches tall, I need help more than ever when it comes to air travel. The airlines all seem to have concocted food service just for me: knee sandwiches. Maybe for you, too. But I've figured out a way around their inhospitable arrangements.

Long-term care hardball in Florida

March 14, 2011

Spring training has professional baseball players throwing and hitting balls all around Florida. But another big-time "sport" has been taking place — and it's also involved some powerful whacking.

Pssssst! Have we got a deal for you!

March 10, 2011

We might have just been subjected to the biggest dose of chutzpah seen in a long, long while. It smacked of the old image of the leering used-car salesman (sorry, used car sales people) rubbing his thumb and forefinger together to imply he could save YOU money.

What we have here is a failure to capitulate

March 07, 2011

The saga of Donald Berwick as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services took an interesting, if not sadly predictable, turn last week. Opponents of his patron, President Obama, called for Berwick to be pulled from consideration for renomination.

What lurks in long-term care residents' minds

March 03, 2011

The first rule of any debate, or "heated" discussion, is to know your definitions. If you don't, not much else matters. With caregiving, it comes down to knowing your people.

Flush with cash, REITs go on spending spree

March 01, 2011

Talk about your good advertising for upcoming business meetings. Next week, the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry is hosting its second annual spring meeting for skilled nurisng operators and a companion regional investors meeting in Los Angeles.

Of admissions, knitting and bandwagons: CLASS danger

February 23, 2011

Supporters of the CLASS Act were cringing this week, just as they were two weeks ago when McKnight's reported on some loaded remarks from the nation's Medicare and Medicaid top overseer.

A reason to hide

February 17, 2011

Given recent flaps about hospice care in nursing homes, one has to wonder if long-term care providers are always going to be subjected to the "one step forward, one step back" syndrome.

Tort reform still a pipe dream for providers

February 10, 2011

The news hit pretty broadly this week that a House committee was taking another swing at molding a tort reform bill. We at McKnight's, and many others, dutifully gave it a decent airing. Unfortunately, like so many things out of Washington, it's liable to wind up being just so much hot-airing when all is said and done

A shot (and a beer?)

February 07, 2011

If you want to work here, you will get vaccinated. Period.

They're knocking ... are you answering?

February 03, 2011

A private company with a website focused on family caregivers released survey results Thursday. They detailed how stressful caregiving can be for loved ones. Financial and emotional stress pound these people.

Some of the extras seem to be going off the script

February 01, 2011

For anyone who thinks most of the good scripts are in Hollywood, I say look east. The nation's capital can more than hold its own when it comes to creating story lines that are interesting and unpredictable.

E-health records don't get a free pass

January 26, 2011

There are millions of dots around us at any time. Sometimes a couple will jump out at you and scream, "Connect us!" I had one of those moments the other day when I saw the news headline "Electronic records don't improve outpatient care, Stanford study indicates."

What's in a name? We're about to find out—maybe

January 21, 2011

Hope you have a pencil handy with your scorecard at home. One with a good eraser.

Some health and life tips from Deepak Chopra

January 13, 2011

As it's a new year, it's as good a time as any to take stock of our health—both mental and physical. Deepak Chopra offers some great advice in this department.

Republicans in the House

January 06, 2011

A new party has taken control of the House of Representatives. What does that mean for healthcare and specifically long-term care? We soon shall see.

What's in a name? We're about to find out—maybe

January 02, 2011

Hope you have a pencil handy with your scorecard at home. One with a good eraser.

What a year it was for nursing homes!

December 29, 2010

It's too bad that 2010 should end with a damning report about Medicare overbilling. It's not exactly the best way for nursing home providers to greet the new year.

Ode to the lame-duck session

December 22, 2010

Lawmakers have been earning their keep lately. Given all the legislation that has passed, I could not resist writing this little holiday poem.

Come and get it! Continuing education a click away

December 15, 2010

There are some exceptions to the old saying, "There's no such thing as a free lunch." McKnight's' continuing education offerings are a perfect example.

The road to the RUG-IV-related repeal

December 10, 2010

Some good news—and just in time for the holidays. Nursing home providers can ring in 2011 knowing that residents will not be denied Medicare Part B outpatient therapy and the RUG-IV system won't change.

IT project aims to reduce hospital readmissions

December 08, 2010

As the government strives to limit rehospitalizations, one nursing home and a couple of hospitals in New York City are staying ahead of the pack.

Long-term care planning still eludes us

December 03, 2010

We know at this point that people aren't talking about their possible future long-term care needs. But why? Confusion, for one, says renowned gerontologist Ken Dychtwald.

Open up and say 'Aha'

December 01, 2010

OK, raise your hand if you were surprised to learn that physicians averted a major Medicare pay cut that was supposed to take place this week. Didn't think so. I wasn't either.

A lesson on life from Guatemala

November 23, 2010

As Thanksgiving comes around, I think back to my volunteer experience in Guatemala City last summer. There, I was reminded about the importance of taking time to enjoy life—wherever you happen to be.

Berwick's remarks offer insight into his healthcare worldview

November 19, 2010

Dr. Donald Berwick of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services may not have said enough to satisfy some members of the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, but he arguably presented some pretty defined views on healthcare.

New Medicare, Medicaid initiative to experiment with ideas

November 17, 2010

Let the brewing begin! That's how I interpreted this week's launch of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.

Commission takes the knife to healthcare spending

November 12, 2010

Preliminary recommendations from a new commission gave long-term care providers a bit of a fright this week. And understandably so.

A new fight over healthcare reform

November 04, 2010

One of the highlights of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging conference came near the end—during a panel discussion about the impact of midterm elections on healthcare reform.

Nice to meet you, Mr. President

October 29, 2010

Imagine if you had the chance to ask President Obama anything you wanted. Rhode Island nursing home operator Angelo Rotella did, and loved every second.

No easy chair for AHCA's Bob Van Dyk

October 26, 2010

Reflecting on the recently concluded American Health Care Association annual meeting, it seems there were almost too many star players for one conference.

'Tis nursing home conference season

October 22, 2010

It's hard to believe we're in the midst of another conference season. The American Health Care Association's annual meeting already has passed and the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging's is about a week away.

The glitch

October 19, 2010

It's amazing what some lines of computer code can do. In the case of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, it threw off the workings of the new MDS 3.0 system.

AHCA's changing of the guard

October 12, 2010

It was an emotional general session at the American Health Care Association conference in Long Beach, CA, Monday. Bruce Yarwood, the mighty and well-loved president and CEO handed the reins of the group to Gov. Mark Parkinson, a clear-eyed, well-skilled politician.

Two good prescriptions for long-term care pharmacies

October 08, 2010

Long-term care pharmacies have generated some hot news lately.

New respect for nurses

October 06, 2010

A new report underscores what many nurses already know: They play an increasingly important role in the practice of medicine.

What MDS 3.0 will mean for nursing home providers

October 01, 2010

So, it's finally here. MDS 3.0, the updated resident assessment tool, has officially taken effect. So how exactly will this highly anticipated system change the way you, nursing home providers, operate? There are several ways.

Congress improves its writing skills

September 29, 2010

It sounds like a set-up for a punch line. The Senate this week passed the Plain Writing Act of 2010. Plain Writing Act? So what do we have now? Inscrutable, government-speak?

A brighter outlook for seniors housing sector

September 24, 2010

The long-term care market is still struggling, but you wouldn't know it if you attended the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing & Care Industry conference this week in Chicago.

World's oldest man shares memories, wisdom

September 22, 2010

Taking out the Model T. Watching Halley's Comet. Living without electricity. These are some moments that have punctuated the life of Walter Breuning, who turned 114 Tuesday.

Stories of possible theft and a new high-profile figurehead headline this week's news

September 17, 2010

What a week in long-term care, eh? A chapter leader accused of corruption and a governor tapped to be the head of a nursing home organization? Can't ask for more interesting news than that.

America's breadbasket indeed

September 15, 2010

After Monday's announcement that Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson would become the new Bruce Yarwood as president and CEO of the American Health Care Association, one of the thoughts that came to mind was: What's next — Dorothy and Toto to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency?

Welcome to the world of Vi

September 08, 2010

There's been a splash of name changes in long-term care lately. Vi, formerly known as Classic Residence by Hyatt, may be the most radical of them.

Nice try, but no cigar

August 31, 2010

Upon the initial reading, it appeared that Skilled Healthcare, the tenth-largest skilled nursing provider in the United States, had a good beef. Apparently the jury that slammed it with an eye-popping $677 million in damages was poisoned by a vindictive juror.

Betting they can't handle the 'truth'

August 24, 2010

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius must have seen "A Few Good Men." Her most recent move against the nation's Republican governors looks like a maneuver from Col. Nathan Jessup's playbook.

Mountain climbing, a metaphor for caregiving

August 20, 2010

Recently, two leaders at Brookdale Senior Living scaled Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast. The purpose was to raise awareness of caregivers' tireless work.

Just another superbug

August 17, 2010

There's been a lot of discussion lately about a new superbug. Apparently, it may not be as "super powerful" as some people may think.

Congress pulls through on Medicaid bill

August 12, 2010

You have to give credit where it's due. Congress deserves kudos this week for passing legislation that will extend much-needed Medicaid funding to states.

Birthday wishes for Medicare and Medicaid

August 05, 2010

Amid your daily workload and the whir of summer, a couple birthdays may have slipped by you. I'm speaking of the 45th anniversaries of Medicare and Medicaid.

If Ivy Bean can master Twitter, so can we

August 03, 2010

Did anyone else get a kick out of last week's story about Ivy Bean, the Twitter user who died at the age of 104?

CCRCs under the microscope

July 29, 2010

A growing segment of the long-term care field, continuing care retirement communities, has piqued the interest of the federal government.

Who knew? Repeal of RUG-IV delay in bill one day and out the next

July 26, 2010

When crafting legislation, horse trades are a well-established part of the ritual. What's unfortunate is that many people who have a stake in these deals don't know about them.