Culture Change
Things Are In The Saddle And Ride Mankind
Timstevensshh’s comment on Surplus Safety really gets to the core of the issue… Bill makes a good point as did Emerson: “things are in the saddle and ride mankind”. For two generations enterprise risk management has been riding mankind beyond the point of moral fatigue. Thus exemplars like the “fall prevention strategy” have evolved into [...]
Full Story »Nursing Homes Trend Toward More Homey, Less Institutional Settings
Her first night at St. John’s new nursing home in Penfield, Marguerite Bruno woke about 2 in the morning, took her walker and headed to the kitchen.
A staff member asked if anything was wrong, did she need anything.
A roast beef sandwich would be nice, the 94-year-old woman replied.
A few minutes later, Bruno had her snack and went back to bed.
Full Story »New Director Focuses On Veteran Needs
She plans to continue the projects already started, especially the Green House Project, which creates home-like facilities for older vets in long-term care.
Full Story »Read The Latest Alzheimer’s From The Inside Out Newsletter
The latest edition of the newsletter Alzheimer’s From the Inside Out, Reports from between the ears and from the heart and spirit of Richard Taylor, A person living with the symptoms of Dementia, hit my inbox this morning. If you’re not a subscriber, sign up now — it’s a must-read newsletter for anyone interested in changing the way we think about and treat people living with Dementia. You can sign up at Richard’s website here: http://www.richardtaylorphd.com/
Full Story »Next Generation of Long-Term Care: Personable and Person-Focused
Are we finally getting more comfortable going outside the box to deliver dignified care? Anne-Marie Botek at AgingCare.com recently explored concepts like dementia towns, Green Houses, Villages, and The Eden Alternative. She made the point that putting people first sometimes means doing some unconventional things; like allowing plants, animals, and children into nursing homes to help deliver care to [...]
Full Story »Martin Bayne Sends Mail
Martin Bayne has been a leading edge thinker and doer for a quite some time. He is now writing about his exploration of elderhood and assisted living. He sends this note… Michael Gates Gill’s essay The Incredible Lightness of Being Seventy** brings to us, like an empty hand, a classic example of evolution: This clear [...]
Full Story »Collaborating for a “Sustainable” Future
Recently, in New Orleans, The Green House Project team had two different opportunities to interact with thought leaders who are impacting the future. First, we participated in a round table discussion with Strategic Development Partners, where we joined a diverse group from healthcare, education and finance to contemplate the vision for sustainable, livable communities. Next, during the AHCA-NCAL Independent Owners conference, the focus on quality as an economic imperative, sparked many substantive conversations about the role The Green House Project can play in long term care innovation.
Full Story »Rights and Dignity of Seniors in Assisted Living: A Victory
An unfortunate practice has been tolerated for too long at some continuing care retirement communities (CCRs). CCRs provide housing and services for seniors, often with a wide range of needs. Residents who are fully independent may be in one part of the CCR, while residents who are disabled and need assistance may live in the assisted living wing. Often over time, a resident will transfer from the independent to the assisted living wing.
Full Story »She’s Not Dead Yet
This is kind of story that gave rise to nightmares when, a long time ago, people used to rail against the influence of computers on society.
“Do Not Fold, Spindle or Mutiliate!”
Betty Longshore (aged 92) told her unusual story Friday of how her bank, First Federal, was sent a notice by the U.S. Department of Treasury that she had passed away on July 20, 2011. By law, the bank withdrew $16, 953 from federal retirement benefits from her account during the time after they believed she died.
The bank called Longshore on February 29th after seeing her account was active and was obviously surprised to find out she was alive.
Full Story »Homeshare in the Guardian
There’s an extensive feature about Homeshare in the Guardian magazine today. http://goo.gl/725rj Here’s an excerpt: War veteran Marjory decided after one meeting to share her house with Heather, a nursing student. Heather gives 10 hours’ help a week, cooking three or four times and doing light cleaning. They have been homesharing since 2010. Ground rules: [...]
Paul Burstow’s Wise Words
The Guardian’s Zoe WIlliams wades into the debate over age and ageing.
… [The UK's minister for care services] Paul Burstow, told me at another conference later in the week: “We equate old age and frailty as if they are automatically synonymous. We equate old age and senility as if they are automatically synonymous. This is something we’ve got to stop doing.”
MP Burstow has it right here– ageing includes but is not equivalent to decline. The problem is that we are all growing older in a society whose expectations, humor, media and public policies are declinist in nature. As a result, normal changes related to ageing are framed as evidence of “frailty and senility” when in fact they are nothing of the kind.
Full Story »3 Ways Boomers Can Save on Housing
The combination of falling mortgage rates and home prices can help people lower their housing costs.
Full Story »Different-ly Abled… Just Like You
Within the greater disabilities community, “differently-abled” has a far broader meaning than competence. It focuses on the ABILITY of each person as opposed to what he/she may be lacking.
Full Story »Keep Evolving
Live, Grow and Thrive. Three words that describe what we want every elder to experience in a Green House home. Three words that reflect the opportunity to learn, experience, and make positive developments in our lives. Something I believe we … Continue reading →
Full Story »Flying Taught Me to Expect Turbulence
While anxiety provoking to most passengers, extreme turbulence is rare and pilots with a basic knowledge of what causes turbulence can generally avoid it. In that sense, flying is a lot like managing a large not-for-profit organization.
Full Story »Again with the Darned Robots
If this is Spring— and I think it is— and if high tech companies are having their annual trade shows– and I think they are, that means it’s time for another dose of the darned adorable, caregiving baby seal robot.
Yes, the Wall Street Journal goes there.
Full Story »This Robot Wants a Belly-Rub
… founder of the Green House Project, a campaign to make nursing homes smaller and more like regular houses, recently told The Wall Street Journal.
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Can Death Be Different?
The Atlantic Monthly’s March issue features a stirring book excerpt from one of the pioneers of the Hospice movement Dr. Ira Byock calling for a transformation of how our society and culture think about and care for people who are dying.
In his upcoming book “The Best Care Possible,” Byock points to a mainstream culture that utterly refuses to come to terms with the facts of mortality.
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Jim Klobuchar – Adrift in the Facebook Follies
On my doorstep the other day, on the front page of my favorite Minneapolis daily newspaper, was a story about a spreading high tech menace called “sleep texting.”
It told of thousands of people, mostly young folks of high school and college age, unwittingly expanding their adventures in the miracles of hand held devices by subconsciously writing text messages while they’re still half asleep.It told of thousands of people, mostly young folks of high school and colle…
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