November is National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM), a time dedicated to acknowledging and supporting those providing care to family members. Of the 53 million family caregivers in the U.S., many of them are providing support for older adults. Whether it be an aging parent, spouse, or loved one, the changing dynamics and increased commitment that…
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Residents’ Rights Month is an event celebrated annually in October to honor all residents living in long-term care communities. The theme of the year 2023 – Amplify Our Voices – emphasizes a community of long-term care residents coming together to make their voices heard. Nursing home residents have rights guaranteed by the 1987 Federal Nursing Home Reform…
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Causes and factors worsening staffing shortages across the continuum of care Healthcare staffing shortages are a significant and undeniable issue affecting patients and workers, especially in long-term care. Fewer women having children and longer life expectancies have created a circumstance in which more of our population is growing older than is having children. It is…
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A Little Background In May of 2008, the US House of Representatives announced July as Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Campbell was an author who pivoted her efforts to advocating for the mental health of minorities and eliminating the stigma associated with mental health in communities of color. In 2005, Campbell,…
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There’s a quote from Mr. Rogers that circulates around social media when a tragic event occurs. I have mentioned it before. “When I was a boy, and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people helping.’” I, like many others,…
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Update 7/17/22: The Essential Caregivers Program will be law as of 8/28/22! It is no secret that nursing homes became a place of intense isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. When everyone felt alone and isolated, long-term care residents were left in understaffed facilities where even their basic needs were not being met. Many stories arose…
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Loneliness and isolation affect the physical and mental wellbeing of older adults. Studies have shown that loneliness is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, heart disease, difficulty sleeping, impaired cognition, and high blood pressure. Without social networks and a connection to the community, the elderly risk their health, and isolation in long-term care has…
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