I am a 70-year-old openly gay male who has been living at Central Island Healthcare in Plainview, NY for five years now. As we move through June, which is Gay Pride Month, I was hoping to share my personal...
Finding hope in a letter
By
Louise Merrick
Feb 03, 2019
As a licensed nursing home administrator since 1985, I have had many peaks and valleys in my career! I am happy to report that the majority of my work in the facilities I have had the privilege of overseeing...
Ode to The Annual Survey (‘The DON Blues’)
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Nov 27, 2018
Oh, annual survey,You stress me so,No matter how we prepare,I’ll dread you, though … Despite skills labs, process reviews,And competency checksFor some reason at survey timeI fret a big hex I’ve...
Scattering seeds
By
Gary Tetz
Nov 15, 2018
It was my birthday yesterday — the same day I found out that Fernald, a World War II veteran and one of the wisest, bravest and most adorable people I’ve ever known, had passed away.
Ghosts of therapists past
By
Renee Kinder
Nov 08, 2018
Therapists experience the same impact when facing the ghosts of predecessors in their own therapy departments. And when considering the spirits of old habits needing to be shifted by significant changes...
Cut into some apple pie instead of your MDS staffing budget
By
Steven Littlehale
Nov 05, 2018
It was about an hour after the release of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed rule for FY19, which contained the big Patient-Driven Payment Model reveal, that a wave of bold and somewhat...
The power of your mind — the greatest asset or the greatest barrier
By
Martie Moore
Oct 22, 2018
Your mind can be your biggest bonus, or something that subconsciously gets in the way of success.
Getting it right: How SNF owners evaluate the decision to exit the business
By
Amy Mahone
Tim Cobb
Oct 17, 2018
Long-time holders of skilled nursing may be considering whether it’s time to sell.
Copernicus update! The Earth now revolves around ICD-10 codes
By
Steven Littlehale
Oct 03, 2018
In the past, our skilled nursing world has revolved around a sun of its own, known as resource utilization groups (particularly the lucrative high-therapy ones). Now, however, according to the details...
A truly healing yarn
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 25, 2018
An anecdote that touches on the impact of where residents are placed within the facility, the value of consistent staffing and the importance of “leaning in” to meet residents where they’re at emotionally.