What if nursing homes had a ‘well-being budget’?
Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: What if nursing homes had a ‘well-being budget’? Last week, New Zealand passed the country’s first “well-being budget,” with billions in funding directed towards mental health, suicide prevention, addiction treatment and combatting poverty. This development had me considering what a “well-being budget” would look like in...
The added value of social workers and psychosocial services
Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: The added value of social workers and psychosocial services The top recommendation in the April 9 McKnight’s article “Researchers share 6 tips to improve nursing home care for blacks and Latinos” was to include a social worker on staff in the facility. “Great,” a reader commented,...
Benefits of acknowledging success
Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Benefits of acknowledging success “My column won a bronze award for best blog in the 2019 American Society of Healthcare Publication Editors competition,” I informed a friend of mine, “but I feel funny telling people.” “Women have such a hard time with this!” she said with...
“The World” column wins ASHPE bronze for best blog!
I’m pleased to announce that my biweekly McKnight’s LTC News column, The World According to Dr. El, won a bronze award for best blog in the 2019 American Society of Healthcare Publication Editors competition.
Why Five-Star ratings should measure staff retention, not staff ratios
Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Why Five-Star ratings should measure staff retention, not staff ratios The Five-Star Quality Rating System reports the results of health inspections, staffing and quality measures. I suggest we replace the current staffing measure with one tracking staff retention. Here’s my logic: The existing staffing score is...
How to quit like a shrink
Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: How to quit like a shrink Employees leave their positions for many reasons — organizational restructuring, family needs, a better offer — and they exit their jobs in a variety of different ways. Some sneak out quietly so that their coworkers find out only after they’re...
Sleep deprivation and pain
Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Sleep deprivation and pain Despite the fact that my search for column inspiration took place at 3 a.m., I chose the topic of sleep deprivation because residents regularly tell me about their own sleep disturbances. They also discuss their pain. Though their aches often keep them...
Self-care, team-care and an empty well
Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Self-care, team-care and an empty well “How’s it going?” I asked Larry, one of the maintenance workers I chatted with from time to time. He didn’t have his usual smile and his wrist was in a brace from a repetitive stress injury. “I’m tired,” he replied....
Severely mentally ill residents: A ‘perfect storm’ creates a SNF wave
Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Severely mentally ill residents: A ‘perfect storm’ creates a SNF wave Long-term care facilities are admitting more residents with longstanding psychiatric illnesses. Such individuals enter the nursing home for physical rehabilitation but are difficult to discharge back to the community due to their mental health needs,...
A hopeful day at LeadingAge 2018
LeadingAge is a national organization of long-term care service providers that has as its stated vision “An America Freed From Ageism.” Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: A hopeful day at LeadingAge 2018 I headed to the 2018 LeadingAge convention last week looking for a fix of long-term care enthusiasm and that’s...
