At this festive time of year, it’s all-too-easy to be charmed and delighted by visions of reindeer leaping from rooftops and scampering across the sky. But before we let such images cloud our judgment,...
Prolonging life, one smile at a time
By
Gary Tetz
Dec 08, 2022
I think it’s a law that every boy has to try secretly smoking behind the garage, at least once in childhood. For me, that first attempt involved a neighbor kid and I grabbing a handful of grass — no,...
Let there not be light
By
Gary Tetz
Nov 17, 2022
It’s the first command in the Biblical creation story — let there be light. But if you’re working a night shift in a long-term care facility, I need you to stop reading this right now and go turn...
The positive wake-up call
By
Gary Tetz
Nov 03, 2022
Generally, I’m a law-abiding citizen. If I have a good reason, I’ll occasionally violate a minor rule or two, but nothing significant. I don’t do much murder, for instance,
Breaking news: The pandemic was hard
By
Gary Tetz
Oct 06, 2022
That pandemic. Wow. While it was happening and people were dying and stuff, I remember thinking, “This is kind of a difficult time we’re going through. I feel a little stressed and anxious.” But...
Up from the ashes
By
Gary Tetz
Sep 08, 2022
With the president of AHCA predicting a difficult 2023, it confirmed just how tough a slog the road back from the darkest days of the pandemic will likely continue to be for long-term care. But if we’re...
Shouting time
By
Gary Tetz
Aug 25, 2022
Maybe it comes from working in the highly regulated long-term care profession for so many years, or maybe it’s just from being a subservient Canadian, but I’ve become quite a prolific rule follower....
I honestly love you
By
Gary Tetz
Aug 11, 2022
I know we have a lot on our minds these days. Little brain teasers like, how do we possibly replace the estimated 362,000 employees the long-term care profession has lost during the pandemic? A recent...
Walking on sunshine
By
Gary Tetz
Jul 28, 2022
A cheery good morning from Portland, OR — or as I affectionately call it, the surface of the sun. It’s a million degrees outside, day and night. The heat is constant and oppressive, and none...
Rolling out the red carpet for robots
By
Gary Tetz
Jul 14, 2022
Given recent news, award presentations at future long-term care conventions might have a new twist. “And now, please put your hands together for our Frontline Caregiver of the Year: Arti3000, a tireless...