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    <title>James Square Updates</title>
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      <title>Personal Reflections on Indigenous Elders as Repositories of Culture</title>
      <link>https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/10/14/personal-reflections-on-indigenous-elders-as-repositories-of-culture/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=personal-reflections-on-indigenous-elders-as-repositories-of-culture</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;By &lt;a href="https://www.diverseelders.org/author/rebeccaowlmorgandec/"&gt;Rebecca Owl Morgan&lt;/a&gt;. This article originally appeared on &lt;a href="https://generations.asaging.org/indigenous-elders-repositories-culture"&gt;Generations&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://generations.asaging.org/"&gt;American Society on Aging&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="dropcaps"&gt;During 2020, while COVID-19 was raging across the nation, my tribe, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, N.C., &lt;a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/07/how-our-indian-country-flattened-the-curve/614734/"&gt;took intense measures early on&lt;/a&gt;, shutting down the Qualla Boundary (our tribal lands), implementing mass testing, contract tracing and case isolation. Tribal leaders and elders feel a sense of urgency about preserving the culture and language, as was demonstrated during the worst of the pandemic when Native language speakers were prioritized to receive the vaccine by some tribes.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;In the end the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians handled the pandemic more effectively than many other areas in North Carolina, ensuring elders’ legacies.... &lt;a class="readMoreLink" href="https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/10/14/personal-reflections-on-indigenous-elders-as-repositories-of-culture/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt;</description>
      <category>Health</category>
      <category>American Society on Aging</category>
      <category>ageism</category>
      <category>The National Indian Council on Aging</category>
      <category>Ageism and culture</category>
      <category>culture</category>
      <category>well-being</category>
      <category>health and well-being</category>
      <category>Rebecca Owl Morgan</category>
      <category>Indigenous Elders</category>
      <category>American Indian Elders</category>
      <category>Alaska Native Elders</category>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:09:02 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.diverseelders.org/?p=8699</guid>
      <dc:creator>Rebecca Owl Morgan</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2021-10-14T14:09:02Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Tackling Latino health, caregiving and housing is key as older population grows</title>
      <link>https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/10/12/tackling-latino-health-caregiving-and-housing-is-key-as-older-population-grows/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=tackling-latino-health-caregiving-and-housing-is-key-as-older-population-grows</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;By Laura Castañeda. This article originally appeared on &lt;a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/tackling-latino-health-caregiving-housing-key-older-population-grows-rcna1211"&gt;NBC News&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class=""&gt;Eduardo Covarrubias retired from his job as a museum security guard in Washington, D.C., 14 years ago and moved to &lt;a href="http://nhcoa.org/casa-iris-housing-facility/"&gt;Casa Iris&lt;/a&gt;, an affordable housing community for older adults.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class=""&gt;The complex has 39 one-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot apartments for people ages 62 and older that cost a maximum of $813 per month, depending on income. To compare, the average one-bedroom apartment in the nation’s capital runs &lt;a href="https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/washington-dc"&gt;$2,213&lt;/a&gt; monthly.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class=""&gt;“It’s peaceful. There are good people living here and the administration is very efficient,” Covarrubias, 79, said in Spanish, adding that he would have had to move back to his native Bolivia long ago if not for Casa Iris.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class=""&gt;Older.... &lt;a class="readMoreLink" href="https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/10/12/tackling-latino-health-caregiving-and-housing-is-key-as-older-population-grows/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt;</description>
      <category>Hispanic Elders</category>
      <category>Hispanic Heritage Month</category>
      <category>Latinx</category>
      <category>Older adults</category>
      <category>Family Caregivers</category>
      <category>Hispanic</category>
      <category>latinx elders</category>
      <category>nbc news</category>
      <category>housing</category>
      <category>health challenges</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 12 Oct 2021 14:45:34 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.diverseelders.org/?p=8697</guid>
      <dc:creator>Diverse Elders</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2021-10-12T14:45:34Z</dc:date>
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      <title>The Importance of Latino Representation in Health Research</title>
      <link>https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/10/11/the-importance-of-latino-representation-in-health-research/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=the-importance-of-latino-representation-in-health-research</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;By &lt;a href="http://nhcoa.org"&gt;NHCOA&lt;/a&gt; Media. This article originally appeared on the &lt;a href="https://nhcoa.org/the-importance-of-latino-representation-in-health-research/"&gt;NHCOA blog&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Precision medicine is a new approach to disease treatment and prevention that considers differences in people’s lifestyles, environment, and biological makeup, including their genetics.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Many groups, especially communities of color, have been historically underrepresented in health research. This disparity was highlighted with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has affected different demographic groups in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic made this disparity even more visible as the pandemic has affected every community differently. A 2021 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association analyzed 230 medical trials in the United States between 2011 and 2020 and found that, of those that reported race,.... &lt;a class="readMoreLink" href="https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/10/11/the-importance-of-latino-representation-in-health-research/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt;</description>
      <category>Hispanic Heritage Month</category>
      <category>Latinx</category>
      <category>NHCOA</category>
      <category>health research</category>
      <category>Hispanic</category>
      <category>all of us research</category>
      <category>latinx heritage month</category>
      <category>latino representation</category>
      <category>latino</category>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Oct 2021 14:07:24 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.diverseelders.org/?p=8695</guid>
      <dc:creator>Diverse Elders</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2021-10-11T14:07:24Z</dc:date>
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      <title>We Must Support Our Hispanic/Latinx Caregivers</title>
      <link>https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/09/15/we-must-support-our-hispanic-latinx-caregivers/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=we-must-support-our-hispanic-latinx-caregivers</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;By Yanira Cruz and Ocean Le. This article appeared on the American Society on Aging (ASA), Generations Today &amp;#124; July-August 2021&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Editor’s Note: This article represents the fifth in a series by the Diverse Elders Coalition (DEC) to be published in Generations Today. Articles are connected to ASA-hosted webinars; see end of article to register. The series of articles by the DEC highlights research from &lt;a href="https://www.johnahartford.org/grants-strategy/addressing-unmet-family-caregiving-needs-in-diverse-older-communities"&gt;The Caregiving Initiative&lt;/a&gt;, a multiyear research project funded by &lt;a href="https://www.johnahartford.org/"&gt;The John A. Hartford Foundation&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="dropcaps"&gt;The 2020 pandemic has brought up many problems for Hispanic/Latinx communities, and highlighted multiple preexisting health inequities identified in our 2019 national caregiving survey, particularly for Hispanic/Latinx caregivers. These inequities still exist and have proven problematic as we strive to vaccinate the.... &lt;a class="readMoreLink" href="https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/09/15/we-must-support-our-hispanic-latinx-caregivers/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt;</description>
      <category>Mental Health</category>
      <category>Hispanic Heritage Month</category>
      <category>COVID-19</category>
      <category>Latinx</category>
      <category>NHCOA</category>
      <category>Caregivers</category>
      <category>Pandemic</category>
      <category>DEC</category>
      <category>Yanira Cruz</category>
      <category>ASA</category>
      <category>Generations Today</category>
      <category>Hispanic</category>
      <category>Respite Care</category>
      <category>Financial Assistance</category>
      <category>Resources</category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 15 Sep 2021 14:36:19 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.diverseelders.org/?p=8691</guid>
      <dc:creator>Diverse Elders</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2021-09-15T14:36:19Z</dc:date>
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      <title>Protecting Elders in a Pandemic World</title>
      <link>https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/09/03/protecting-elders-in-a-pandemic-world/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=protecting-elders-in-a-pandemic-world</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.theatlantavoice.com/?s=%22Jatika%20H.%20Patterson%22"&gt;By Jatika H. Patterson&lt;/a&gt;. This article originally appeared on &lt;a href="https://www.theatlantavoice.com/articles/protecting-elders-in-a-pandemic-world/"&gt;The Atlanta Voice.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, two of the first regulations from the World Health Organization (WHO) were self-quarantining and social distancing.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;As many of us did our best to stay six feet away from each other in grocery stores, jobs, walking the streets, that new regulation affected our abilities to care and watch over our aging population at home and in elder care facilities leaving them vulnerable to the evils of elder abuse.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Many videos surfaced on social media of creative ways families kept in contact with nursing home residents. They chatted on cell phones while seeing them through windows, yelling out of windows.... &lt;a class="readMoreLink" href="https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/09/03/protecting-elders-in-a-pandemic-world/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt;</description>
      <category>African American Elders</category>
      <category>Caregiving</category>
      <category>COVID-19 pandemic</category>
      <category>NCBA</category>
      <category>Karyne Jones</category>
      <category>Nursing Homes</category>
      <category>Facility Leaders</category>
      <category>Abuse</category>
      <pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2021 13:25:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.diverseelders.org/?p=8688</guid>
      <dc:creator>Diverse Elders</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2021-09-03T13:25:22Z</dc:date>
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      <title>Mental Health Services Needed to Treat Emotional Distress During the Pandemic</title>
      <link>https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/09/02/mental-health-services-needed-to-treat-emotional-distress-during-the-pandemic/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=mental-health-services-needed-to-treat-emotional-distress-during-the-pandemic</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;By &lt;a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcy-adelman-318a4b8/"&gt;Dr. Marcy Adelman&lt;/a&gt;. This article originally appeared in &lt;a href="http://sfbaytimes.com/mental-health-services-needed-to-treat-emotional-distress-during-the-pandemic/"&gt;SF Bay Times&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Jan is a 71-year-old lesbian and a diabetic. She lives alone and prides herself on her independence. She is quick to tell you she is a happily retired jack of all trades and now an aspiring photographer. Pre-pandemic she enjoyed doing portraits but COVID-19 and shelter in place (CSIP) put the portraits on hold. She is concerned that diabetes and her compromised immune system put her at greater risk for COVID-19.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;From March to May, Jan rarely left her apartment. By mid-May she found herself feeling stressed and out of sorts. She told me for the San Francisco Bay Times, “It was like I was anxious all the.... &lt;a class="readMoreLink" href="https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/09/02/mental-health-services-needed-to-treat-emotional-distress-during-the-pandemic/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt;</description>
      <category>LGBT History Month</category>
      <category>Dr. Marcy Adelman</category>
      <category>LGBTQIA</category>
      <category>Mental Health Services</category>
      <category>Emotional Distress</category>
      <category>BILPOC</category>
      <category>PTSD</category>
      <pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:33:19 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.diverseelders.org/?p=8686</guid>
      <dc:creator>Diverse Elders</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2021-09-02T13:33:19Z</dc:date>
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      <title>Tag team approach to healthcare reaches older adults in Bangladeshi community during COVID-19 pandemic</title>
      <link>https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/09/01/tag-team-approach-to-healthcare-reaches-older-adults-in-bangladeshi-community-during-covid-19-pandemic/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=tag-team-approach-to-healthcare-reaches-older-adults-in-bangladeshi-community-during-covid-19-pandemic</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;by &lt;a title="Posts by Nargis Hakim Rahman" href="https://tostadamagazine.com/author/nargisrahman/" rel="author"&gt;NARGIS HAKIM RAHMAN. &lt;/a&gt;This article originally appeared in &lt;a href="https://tostadamagazine.com/2021/07/14/tag-team-approach-to-healthcare-saves-lives-of-older-adults-in-bangladeshi-community-during-covid-19-pandemic/"&gt;Tostada Magazine&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Typically, Farzana Noor, a nurse practitioner at the Children’s Clinic of Michigan in Hamtramck is accustomed to bandaging up cuts and scrapes, treating colds, and soothing fussing children getting their first shots.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;That all changed last year when the pandemic raged through the Bangladeshi community in Hamtramck. When nearby healthcare providers abruptly ceased operations amid the crisis, Noor began seeing an influx of older Bangladeshi women patients who often serve as the primary caregivers spanning generations in their households enter her office.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Noor, who is Bangladeshi American, found herself in familiar territory as many of the older patients were accompanied by their.... &lt;a class="readMoreLink" href="https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/09/01/tag-team-approach-to-healthcare-reaches-older-adults-in-bangladeshi-community-during-covid-19-pandemic/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt;</description>
      <category>Healthcare</category>
      <category>Bangladeshi Community</category>
      <category>Michigan</category>
      <category>COVID-19 pandemic</category>
      <category>Bangladeshi Older Adults</category>
      <category>Community Outreach</category>
      <category>Nargis Hakim Rahman</category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 01 Sep 2021 13:39:40 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.diverseelders.org/?p=8685</guid>
      <dc:creator>Diverse Elders</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2021-09-01T13:39:40Z</dc:date>
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      <title>National Immunization Awareness Month: The COVID-19 Vaccine &amp; Daily Life in Diverse Communities</title>
      <link>https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/08/31/national-immunization-awareness-month-the-covid-19-vaccine-daily-life-in-diverse-communities/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=national-immunization-awareness-month-the-covid-19-vaccine-daily-life-in-diverse-communities</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;DEC staff members, &lt;a href="https://www.diverseelders.org/who-we-are/the-coalition/our-team/"&gt;Nina Darby&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://www.diverseelders.org/author/oceanledec/"&gt;Ocean Le&lt;/a&gt; sat down to have a talk about the unique realities of diverse communities amid the pandemic and the implications of the COVID-19 vaccine. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Ocean: Hey Nina! Firstly, I just want to say welcome to the DEC team! We are so lucky to have you and its great knowing that we have a dedicated trainer to help others comprehend the unique issues, realities, and experiences of the diverse communities we serve. With that being said, I am excited to speaking to you about todays’ topic. As you know, August is National Immunization Month and so I wanted to talk about the COVID-19 vaccine and some of the general implications it has on daily life in diverse communities.  &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Nina: Hey.... &lt;a class="readMoreLink" href="https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/08/31/national-immunization-awareness-month-the-covid-19-vaccine-daily-life-in-diverse-communities/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt;</description>
      <category>COVID-19</category>
      <category>NHCOA</category>
      <category>NICOA</category>
      <category>SAGE</category>
      <category>SEARAC</category>
      <category>COVID-19 Vaccine</category>
      <category>Diverse Communities</category>
      <category>NCBA</category>
      <category>national immunization awareness month</category>
      <category>daily life</category>
      <category>disparities</category>
      <category>DEC</category>
      <category>Karyne Jones</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 31 Aug 2021 15:30:15 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.diverseelders.org/?p=8683</guid>
      <dc:creator>Diverse Elders</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2021-08-31T15:30:15Z</dc:date>
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      <title>What is Caregiver Burnout?</title>
      <link>https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/07/07/what-is-caregiver-burnout/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=what-is-caregiver-burnout</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;By &lt;a href="https://nhcoa.org/"&gt;NHCOA&lt;/a&gt;. This article originally appeared on the &lt;a href="https://nhcoa.org/what-is-caregiver-burnout/"&gt;NHCOA blog&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The caregiver syndrome refers to those people who suffer physical, psychological, and general health exhaustion due to the constant and continuous care of a patient.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Caregiver burnout—also known as caregiver stress or caregiver syndrome—was first described by the American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger in 1974. The mental health professional worked in a clinic for drug addicts in New York and observed that most of the volunteers at the clinic had a progressive loss of energy, leading to exhaustion, symptoms of anxiety and depression, as well as lack of motivation at work and aggressiveness with patients after a year of working.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;This is a disorder with serious implications both physically.... &lt;a class="readMoreLink" href="https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/07/07/what-is-caregiver-burnout/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt;</description>
      <category>Mental Health</category>
      <category>Caregiver</category>
      <category>NHCOA</category>
      <category>Aging</category>
      <category>Caregiver Burnout</category>
      <category>Burnout</category>
      <category>Caring</category>
      <category>Stress</category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 07 Jul 2021 13:49:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.diverseelders.org/?p=8670</guid>
      <dc:creator>Diverse Elders</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2021-07-07T13:49:39Z</dc:date>
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      <title>Pride for who we are, Pride for where we come from</title>
      <link>https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/06/30/pride-for-who-we-are-pride-for-where-we-come-from/?utm_source=rss&amp;utm_medium=rss&amp;utm_campaign=pride-for-who-we-are-pride-for-where-we-come-from</link>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;By &lt;a href="https://www.diverseelders.org/author/jennamcdavid/"&gt;Jenna McDavid&lt;/a&gt;. This article originally appeared on the SEARAC blog: &lt;a href="https://www.searac.org/our-voices/pride-for-who-we-are-pride-for-where-we-come-from/"&gt;Our Voices.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;I love that June is both Pride Month and Immigrant Heritage Month, because at SEARAC, it gives us an opportunity to celebrate so many members of the Southeast Asian American communities — and embrace all aspects of their identities. Southeast Asian American members of the LGBTQ+ communities are centered, and the roots of SEAA families and stories are recognized as the strengths that they are.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;In SEARAC’s &lt;a href="https://www.searac.org/our-voices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Our Voices&lt;/a&gt; archive, we have incredible first-person accounts of what LGBTQ+ heritage means to our staff and partners. My colleague &lt;a href="https://www.searac.org/about-us/our-team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"&gt;Kham S. Moua&lt;/a&gt; wrote in 2020 about the importance of solidarity among movements and communities. “I choose.... &lt;a class="readMoreLink" href="https://www.diverseelders.org/2021/06/30/pride-for-who-we-are-pride-for-where-we-come-from/"&gt;Read More&lt;/a&gt;</description>
      <category>Immigration / Refugees</category>
      <category>Pride Month</category>
      <category>Southeast Asian American</category>
      <category>SEAA</category>
      <category>LGBTQ</category>
      <category>Immigrant Heritage Month</category>
      <category>June</category>
      <category>Jenna McDavid</category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 30 Jun 2021 15:42:16 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.diverseelders.org/?p=8668</guid>
      <dc:creator>Jenna McDavid</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2021-06-30T15:42:16Z</dc:date>
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      <title>I’m a Nursing Home Psychologist in the Pandemic Epicenter</title>
      <link>http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/im-a-nursing-home-psychologist-in-the-pandemic-epicenter/</link>
      <description>I’m Worried About the Emotional Impact on the Staff Mr. Davis used to sit in the lobby and greet staff members when they walked in the door of the nursing care center. His wife had friendly chats with other residents when she came to visit; his children brought plates of homemade cookies to the nursing [&amp;#8230;]</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;h3 class="bx ej fx gi fz gj gb gk gd gl gf gm cc"&gt;&lt;strong class="bk"&gt;&lt;img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7035" src="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-of-person-wearing-face-mask-4066426-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-of-person-wearing-face-mask-4066426-300x200.jpg 300w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-of-person-wearing-face-mask-4066426-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-of-person-wearing-face-mask-4066426-768x512.jpg 768w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-of-person-wearing-face-mask-4066426-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-of-person-wearing-face-mask-4066426-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/photo-of-person-wearing-face-mask-4066426-550x367.jpg 550w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h3 class="bx ej fx gi fz gj gb gk gd gl gf gm cc"&gt;&lt;strong class="bk"&gt;I’m Worried About the Emotional Impact on the Staff&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p id="a7e6" class="ii ij ap by ik b fx il fz im in io ip iq ir is it ex" data-selectable-paragraph=""&gt;Mr. Davis used to sit in the lobby and greet staff members when they walked in the door of the nursing care center. His wife had friendly chats with other residents when she came to visit; his children brought plates of homemade cookies to the nursing station during the holidays. Covid-19 took him, them and every other family from nursing homes during this pandemic.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p id="2943" class="ii ij ap by ik b fx il fz im in io ip iq ir is it ex" data-selectable-paragraph=""&gt;His bed is now occupied by Mr. Ward, who was transferred from the hospital two days ago with a coronavirus diagnosis. He hasn’t seen his relatives in the three weeks since they brought him to the crowded emergency room and his cell phone disappeared somewhere along the way. Lonely and in distress, he calls for help from overwhelmed nurses and aides many times each shift.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p id="b6bd" class="ii ij ap by ik b fx il fz im in io ip iq ir is it ex" data-selectable-paragraph=""&gt;The care team swiftly referred Mr. Ward to me for psychology services. I’m able to sit down with him, ease his isolation and begin to process his traumatic experiences. I put my mobile phone on speaker so that he can talk with his children. His requests for nursing assistance have decreased.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p id="32b3" class="ii ij ap by ik b fx il fz im in io ip iq ir is it ex" data-selectable-paragraph=""&gt;For over two decades, I’ve tended to the emotional needs of residents, families and staff as a psychologist in nursing homes in the New York Metropolitan area. The mental health consequences of this pandemic on those who live and have loved ones in nursing facilities are profound. Tragic tales of family members unable to visit dying relatives are increasing, and, when the homes open up again to visitors, we will undoubtedly learn of many more heartbreaking experiences.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p id="e063" class="ii ij ap by ik b fx il fz im in io ip iq ir is it ex" data-selectable-paragraph=""&gt;No less deserving of attention are the emotional pressures on the front-line workers caring for fragile and aging residents.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;For the entire article, visit:&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://link.medium.com/Rx92O888H5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;I’m a Nursing Home Psychologist in the Pandemic Epicenter&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>For All</category>
      <pubDate>Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:40:00 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/?p=7034</guid>
      <dc:creator>Dr. El</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2020-04-18T18:40:00Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Grim but unwavering: Notes from the COVID-19 epicenter</title>
      <link>http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/grim-but-unwavering-notes-from-the-covid-19-epicenter/</link>
      <description>I live in New York City, the COVID-19 epicenter of the U.S. There are long lines for the few open supermarkets, the parks are closed and the nursing homes in New York are now mandated to accept COVID residents from local hospitals. I’m in touch with psychologist colleagues from around the area. Some facilities have [&amp;#8230;]</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;I live in New York City, the COVID-19 epicenter of the U.S. There are long lines for the few open supermarkets, the parks are closed and the nursing homes in New York are now mandated to accept COVID residents from local hospitals.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I’m in touch with psychologist colleagues from around the area. Some facilities have personal protective equipment for their staff regardless of whether or not they have known COVID cases; others are less prepared and less open with their staff about the coronavirus, increasing the anxiety level of their team members.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I was relieved to see the &lt;em&gt;McKnight’s&lt;/em&gt; headline last week, “&lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/news/trump-wants-masks-on-all-nursing-home-workers-temperature-checks-for-all-and-separate-covid-units/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Trump wants masks on all nursing home workers, temperature checks for all, and separate COVID-19 units&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.” &lt;em&gt;Finally&lt;/em&gt;, I thought to myself. Perhaps facilities in other parts of the country will be spared what we’re going through in New York, where the regulations trailed the virus and &lt;a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/nursing-homes-overwhelmed-coronavirus-it-impossible-us-stop-spread-n1174171"&gt;1 in 4 facilities&lt;/a&gt; have COVID residents as of last week’s reports. It is, in a word, grim.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;To get through, I’m trying to focus on being of service, when I can focus at all.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I’ve been issued an N95 mask and a face shield, and I receive a daily surgical mask. I purchased a cane that folds out into a seat so I can maintain a safe distance from my residents and avoid sitting on anything in their rooms. I put my phone in a plastic pouch that hangs from my neck, for easy access and easy cleaning. I obsessively sanitize my hands. At the end of the day, I wipe down anything reusable.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Despite my frightening garb, my patients are happy to see me. “I’ve been waiting for you!” one man exclaimed. “I have to talk to you.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;For the entire article, visit:&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/grim-but-unwavering-notes-from-the-covid-19-epicenter/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Grim but unwavering: Notes from the COVID-19 epicenter&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-7026" src="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/Masked-El-2-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/Masked-El-2-300x225.jpg 300w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/Masked-El-2-550x413.jpg 550w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/Masked-El-2.jpg 765w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>McKnight's Long-Term Care News</category>
      <category>Resident care</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 07 Apr 2020 11:40:30 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/?p=7025</guid>
      <dc:creator>Dr. El</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2020-04-07T11:40:30Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>AARP: Navigating New Rules for Visiting Nursing Home Residents Near Death</title>
      <link>http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/aarp-navigating-new-rules-for-visiting-nursing-home-residents-near-death/</link>
      <description>Thank you to Bruce Horovitz and AARP for tackling this painful aspect of resident care during Covid-19 and for mentioning my work. Navigating New Rules for Visiting Nursing Home Residents Near Death Coronavirus restrictions to protect our most vulnerable alter end-of-life rituals After 45 years of marriage, the cruel twists of fate now leave Jean [&amp;#8230;]</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;Thank you to Bruce Horovitz and AARP for tackling this painful aspect of resident care during Covid-19 and for mentioning my work.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2020/coronavirus-rules-for-visiting-nursing-homes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Navigating New Rules for Visiting Nursing Home Residents Near Death&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;Coronavirus restrictions to protect our most vulnerable alter end-of-life rituals&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;p&gt;After 45 years of marriage, the cruel twists of fate now leave Jean Ross and her seriously ailing husband, Phil, sadly hoping for a best-case scenario, under which they would be able to see each other without waiting for weeks, months or even longer.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It would be the best case because it could potentially be deadly if Phil, 69, were to catch the &lt;a href="https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2020/coronavirus-facts.html?intcmp=AE-CAR-HEA-IL" data-overlay-msg="AARP.Everywhere.LeavingModal.drawOverlay(this,'',/content/aarpe/en/home/caregiving/health/info-2020/coronavirus-rules-for-visiting-nursing-homes.html,'','You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.');return false;"&gt;coronavirus&lt;/a&gt; in his current condition.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Phil is convalescing at a rehab facility in Alexandria, Virginia, following a series of six surgeries to amputate his right arm and right leg, necessitated by a serious allergic reaction to medications after an illness around Christmas. Jean has been barred from visiting him since the facility began following the Centers for Medicare &amp;#38; Medicaid Services’ (CMS) tough new &lt;a href="https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2020/preventing-coronavirus-in-nursing-homes.html?intcmp=AE-CAR-HEA-IL" data-overlay-msg="AARP.Everywhere.LeavingModal.drawOverlay(this,'',/content/aarpe/en/home/caregiving/health/info-2020/coronavirus-rules-for-visiting-nursing-homes.html,'','You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply.');return false;"&gt;coronavirus-related restrictions&lt;/a&gt; on visitors to nursing homes, hospitals and convalescent facilities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“He&amp;#8217;s weak as a kitten due to three months in bed and very little rehab,” says Jean, who also turns 70 this year and had been completing plans with Phil to retire and move from Vienna, Virginia, to live closer to their daughter in suburban Philadelphia, before he became ill. “I&amp;#8217;m looking at a new reality. It was wrenching last night to say on the phone, ‘I don&amp;#8217;t know when I&amp;#8217;ll see you again.’ “&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;For the entire article, visit:&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/health/info-2020/coronavirus-rules-for-visiting-nursing-homes.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Navigating New Rules for Visiting Nursing Home Residents Near Death&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h4&gt;Coronavirus restrictions to protect our most vulnerable alter end-of-life rituals&lt;/h4&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7022" src="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/old-couple-walking-while-holding-hands-906111-300x176.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="176" srcset="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/old-couple-walking-while-holding-hands-906111-300x176.jpg 300w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/old-couple-walking-while-holding-hands-906111-550x324.jpg 550w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/old-couple-walking-while-holding-hands-906111.jpg 765w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Books/media of note</category>
      <pubDate>Mon, 30 Mar 2020 22:44:31 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/?p=7021</guid>
      <dc:creator>Dr. El</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2020-03-30T22:44:31Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Addressing residents’ coronavirus fears</title>
      <link>http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/7011-2/</link>
      <description>As the number of coronavirus cases increases around the world, providers may be worried about the emotional impact of the outbreak on residents and how to handle it. One would expect residents to be concerned, given that they’re at higher risk due to their ages, underlying health problems and residence in a communal setting. Rather [&amp;#8230;]</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/addressing-residents-coronavirus-fears/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;&lt;img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7012" src="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/cooking-hands-handwashing-health-545013-300x176.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="176" srcset="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/cooking-hands-handwashing-health-545013-300x176.jpg 300w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/cooking-hands-handwashing-health-545013-550x324.jpg 550w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/cooking-hands-handwashing-health-545013.jpg 765w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As the number of coronavirus cases increases around the world, providers may be worried about the emotional impact of the outbreak on residents and how to handle it. One would expect residents to be concerned, given that they’re at higher risk due to their ages, underlying health problems and residence in a communal setting.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rather than mass panic, my experience and an informal query of my psychologist colleagues suggests that they may not be as worried as you’d think. As of last week, remarkably few of them have raised the issue in psychotherapy sessions (where uneasiness of every kind is discussed).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;My colleagues and I speculate that the majority of residents are not unduly alarmed about the situation due to a combination of factors: more pressing problems, successful passage through many prior hardships, fatalism (i.e., “At this age, something’s going to get me”), denial (“it’s happening far away”), and trust that the facility will keep them safe.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Nevertheless, despite their general calm and resilience, it’s perfectly reasonable for residents to have questions and concerns. There will be some who are deeply unsettled by the prospect of the virus, particularly those with anxiety disorders and people struggling with depression. There may also be individuals who have had past traumatic experiences with hospital-acquired infections, isolation precautions, or communicable illnesses such as polio.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Facilities are no doubt reviewing infection control procedures and holding staff education sessions for their employees. To address the emotional needs of residents, add a brief segment to staff training that includes the following suggestions:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Limit the amount of time residents spend watching the news. There’s no need for them to be exposed to hours of alarming reports on the day room television.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;For the entire article, visit: &lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/addressing-residents-coronavirus-fears/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Addressing residents’ coronavirus fears&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>McKnight's Long-Term Care News</category>
      <category>Resident care</category>
      <category>Role of psychologists</category>
      <pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2020 17:22:47 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/?p=7011</guid>
      <dc:creator>Dr. El</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2020-03-13T17:22:47Z</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>A look at Germany’s intriguing long-term care system</title>
      <link>http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/a-look-at-germanys-intriguing-long-term-care-system/</link>
      <description>I was in Berlin, Germany, last week and did some research into their long-term care system during my visit. I was curious about how it might be different or similar to ours, given the country’s national healthcare program. Briefly, the German system has public and private healthcare insurance options and 100% of the population has [&amp;#8230;]</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7005" src="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/architecture-berlin-buildings-city-109630-300x176.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="176" srcset="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/architecture-berlin-buildings-city-109630-300x176.jpg 300w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/architecture-berlin-buildings-city-109630-550x324.jpg 550w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/architecture-berlin-buildings-city-109630.jpg 765w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;I was in Berlin, Germany, last week and did some research into their long-term care system during my visit. I was curious about how it might be different or similar to ours, given the country’s national healthcare program.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Briefly, the German system has public and private healthcare insurance options and 100% of the population has coverage. That’s compared to the 28 million Americans without insurance and the 48% of Americans between ages 19 and 64 who are underinsured&lt;a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2019/feb/health-insurance-coverage-eight-years-after-aca"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;. Private insurers in Germany are not profit-making enterprises and people cannot be turned away for pre-existing conditions. There are caps on charges for services so that healthcare is still affordable even when medical needs increase. They have better health outcomes than the U.S., and at significantly lower costs.&lt;a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/22/germany-health-care-system-compared-to-united-states.html"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The system has financial incentives for exercise and regular medical checkups, rather than cost-prohibitive copayments that can lead to delays in medical attention.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Long-term care insurance&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;About 79 million of Germany’s 82 million people have long-term care insurance, composed of 88% public and 12% private insurance.&lt;a href="https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/90/1/12-020112/en/"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;3&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/a&gt; Payments can be used for care at home, given to professional, family or friend caregivers, or applied to one of the 12,000 care facilities in the country. If the insurance payment, along with pensions and other income, isn’t enough to cover facility costs, then families contribute or the elder applies for social assistance.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Exploring LTC in Berlin&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I had dinner with &lt;a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0080875/"&gt;Ilse Biberti&lt;/a&gt;, an actor and director who authored a best-selling &lt;a href="https://www.amazon.de/Hilfe-meine-Eltern-sind-alt/dp/3517085537/ref=sr_1_2?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&amp;#38;keywords=Ilse+Biberti&amp;#38;qid=1582551161&amp;#38;sr=8-2"&gt;German-language book&lt;/a&gt; on the six years she spent caring for her aging parents. I chatted about parents with middle-aged Germans over birthday cake at a party. And I got an informative tour of the aforementioned &lt;a href="https://www.unionhilfswerk.de/angebote/pflege/pflegewohnheime/pflegewohnheim-am-kreuzberg.html"&gt;nursing home&lt;/a&gt; by Amélie Herberhold, one of its social workers.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I was staying in a friend’s sixth-floor walkup apartment. This wasn’t an anomaly; there were walkup apartments all over the city. “What do the old folks do?” I queried everyone I met. The answer: “They put a chair on each landing and they take their time.” This sounded very much like apartments in New York City, with elders somehow managing to walk up too many stairs until it’s no longer possible.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Journalist Johannes Buck shared an idea he had come across for those unable to reside alone. Multiple families bring their older relatives to live together in one home and then share the care for all of them as a collaborative effort. The concept of cooperative family responsibilities could be a welcome step on a continuum of care for some organizations or communities in the U.S.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;For the entire article, visit:&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h3 class="post-heading heading"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/a-look-at-germanys-intriguing-long-term-care-system/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;A look at Germany’s intriguing long-term care system&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Business Strategies</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 25 Feb 2020 22:28:55 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/?p=7004</guid>
      <dc:creator>Dr. El</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2020-02-25T22:28:55Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>LTC leaders gain remarkable insights from the Sleepover Project</title>
      <link>http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/ltc-leaders-gain-remarkable-insights-from-the-sleepover-project/</link>
      <description>In my first year as a nursing home psychologist, I entered a resident’s room for a session and she invited me to have a seat in her wheelchair, the only surface that was clean and free of belongings. The thought of sitting in a wheelchair freaked me out. Instead, I carried a heavy chair from [&amp;#8230;]</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7002" src="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/white-bed-comforter-212269-300x176.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="176" srcset="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/white-bed-comforter-212269-300x176.jpg 300w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/white-bed-comforter-212269-550x324.jpg 550w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/white-bed-comforter-212269.jpg 765w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;In my first year as a nursing home psychologist, I entered a resident’s room for a session and she invited me to have a seat in her wheelchair, the only surface that was clean and free of belongings. The thought of sitting in a wheelchair freaked me out. Instead, I carried a heavy chair from the day room up and back down the long hallway.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Afterward I contemplated my reflexive fear of that wheelchair. I concluded that my reaction wasn’t about infection control but rather a superstitious belief that I could somehow jinx myself by sitting there. It separated me from her experience and didn’t offer me any protection from the human reality that any one of us could wind up in that chair tomorrow.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I suspect that fear is a primary reason why it’s rare for long-term care leaders to spend a night in their own facilities, despite the wealth of information they could glean about their enterprises from doing so.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Overcoming such apprehensions, trailblazers in this area joined Laura Beck, the Eden Alternative Learning &amp;#38; Development guide, to discuss their experiences with The Sleepover Project on a webinar that is now available on demand &lt;a href="https://www.edenalt.org/store/the-sleepover-project-an-on-demand-webinar-event/"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;. It will be followed by an upcoming mini-course on how to create a Sleepover Project in other organizations. (Sign up &lt;a href="https://1b3155-38fa.icpage.net/2020-sign-up-form"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; for the Eden Alternative newsletter to stay informed about the launch date.)&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The webinar featured Jill Vitale-Aussem, president and CEO of the Eden Alternative, and Patricia McBride, the VP of Clinical and Compliance at Christian Living Communities/Cappella Living Solutions based out of Denver.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;During the course of her career, Vitale-Aussem spent several nights in different LTC facilities in which she has been, variously, a nursing home administrator, CCRC executive director and vice president of operations. McBride convinced her entire leadership team to each spend a night as a resident over one summer.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;McBride noted that, with continued promotions, organizational leaders were moving further and further from the day-to-day experience of what it meant to be living and working within the setting. Calling it a “collective empathy experience,” they envisioned this opportunity as a way to increase their understanding of their residents and staff, and to determine what, if any, improvements needed to be made to their facilities. The leaders gleaned more insights through staying one night in their communities than they could have imagined.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;For the entire article, visit:&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/ltc-leaders-gain-remarkable-insights-from-the-sleepover-project/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;LTC leaders gain remarkable insights from the Sleepover Project&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Customer service</category>
      <category>McKnight's Long-Term Care News</category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2020 22:02:39 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/?p=7001</guid>
      <dc:creator>Dr. El</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2020-02-12T22:02:39Z</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>And the Oscar goes to…</title>
      <link>http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/and-the-oscar-goes-to/</link>
      <description>And the Oscar goes to… The Oscars kind of bug me. In the gloom of winter, it can be hard not to notice that the extravaganza is filled with self-congratulatory workers wearing clothes that cost more than the yearly salary of several nursing aides. Rather than stew, however, about the puzzling priorities of the world, [&amp;#8230;]</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;h3 class="post-heading heading"&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/and-the-oscar-goes-to/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;And the Oscar goes to…&lt;img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6981" src="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/oscar-statue-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" srcset="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/oscar-statue-300x188.jpg 300w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/oscar-statue-550x344.jpg 550w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/oscar-statue.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The Oscars kind of bug me. In the gloom of winter, it can be hard not to notice that the extravaganza is filled with self-congratulatory workers wearing clothes that cost more than the yearly salary of several nursing aides.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Rather than stew, however, about the puzzling priorities of the world, I’ve decided to award my own Oscars.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Drum roll, please…&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The award for best &lt;strong&gt;Costume Design &lt;/strong&gt;goes to those workers who rock their uniforms. Holiday-themed ensembles, crisply starched tops, well-groomed hair and a kind attitude all speak volumes about the people who wear them, the pride they take in their work and their willingness to help elders.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Best &lt;strong&gt;Production Design&lt;/strong&gt; goes to the maintenance departments, who manage to keep facilities functioning on an essential level and ensure that the surroundings look top-notch. From repairing air conditioners to fixing dresser drawers to rectifying all the many behind-the-scenes glitches, the maintenance crews renew well-worn buildings, creating inviting, trustworthy foundations for care.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Best &lt;strong&gt;Foreign Language Film&lt;/strong&gt; goes to CMS for their efforts to provide guidance to long-term care operators and staff.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Best &lt;strong&gt;Original Score&lt;/strong&gt; goes to the recreation staff who tirelessly provide musical entertainment, engaging activities and meaningful pursuits in a setting more focused on the health of bodies than on that of minds and hearts. Therapeutic recreation is the soundtrack in the lives of residents.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Best &lt;strong&gt;Makeup and Hairstyling&lt;/strong&gt; goes to the aides who thoughtfully tend to the appearance of their charges, helping residents feel worthy of personal attention and more like their best selves in a frequently impersonal environment. A shout-out to the barbers and hairdressers who come into facilities and work their magic for modest fees for people in need.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Best &lt;strong&gt;Documentary Feature &lt;/strong&gt;goes to the geropsychologists who spend their days talking with seniors about their lives, their loves and their losses, assisting them in navigating medical problems, end of life issues, family concerns and institutional living.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Best &lt;strong&gt;Visual Effects&lt;/strong&gt; goes to the housekeeping staff who transform trashed rooms into sparkling accommodations, keeping residents, families and staff free from contagion and healthcare-associated infections.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;For the entire article, visit: &lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/and-the-oscar-goes-to/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;And the Oscar goes to…&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>McKnight's Long-Term Care News</category>
      <category>Motivating staff</category>
      <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jan 2020 12:06:38 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/?p=6980</guid>
      <dc:creator>Dr. El</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2020-01-29T12:06:38Z</dc:date>
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      <title>A resolution to serve physical and mental health</title>
      <link>http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/a-resolution-to-serve-physical-and-mental-health/</link>
      <description>A resolution to serve physical and mental health Ah, January — a moment to consider plans and directions for the upcoming months. Like many people, one of my personal goals is to recommit to mindful eating and wise food choices. While some residents like to rethink their diets as a New Year’s resolution, there are [&amp;#8230;]</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;h3&gt;&lt;img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6977" src="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/assorted-vegetable-lot-1300972-300x176.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="176" srcset="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/assorted-vegetable-lot-1300972-300x176.jpg 300w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/assorted-vegetable-lot-1300972-550x324.jpg 550w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/assorted-vegetable-lot-1300972.jpg 765w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/a-resolution-to-serve-physical-and-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;A resolution to serve physical and mental health&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Ah, January — a moment to consider plans and directions for the upcoming months. Like many people, one of my personal goals is to recommit to mindful eating and wise food choices. While some residents like to rethink their diets as a New Year’s resolution, there are good clinical reasons to review the facility’s menu at any time of the year.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2014.00494/full"&gt;Researchers&lt;/a&gt; have found that the diet and the stomach microbiomes of those in long-term care are significantly less diverse and healthy than those of community-based elders, with institutionalized elders eating diets that are higher in fat and lower in fiber.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Not only that, but the alteration in gut microbes are detectable within 24 hours of dietary changes, suggesting an immediate payoff to dietary improvements (and immediate deleterious effects).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Benefits of a diverse menu&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Studies indicate that a more diverse, healthier menu can promote healing, reduce inflammation and help to fight infection. Moreover, there’s a line of research suggesting that the foods we eat influence not just physical health, but also mental health and moods. A healthy gut microbiome is associated with better cognition and reduced anxiety, depression and other emotional maladies.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The tried-and-true advice of a high-fiber, low-sugar, mostly plant-based diet can benefit patients in body and mind,” author Kirsten Weir writes in “The Future of Psychobiotics” (&lt;a href="http://www.apamonitor-digital.org/apamonitor/201812/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&amp;#38;folio=42#pg45"&gt;&lt;em&gt;Monitor on Psychology&lt;/em&gt;, December 2018&lt;/a&gt;).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;For the entire article, visit: &lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/a-resolution-to-serve-physical-and-mental-health/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;A resolution to serve physical and mental health&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>McKnight's Long-Term Care News</category>
      <category>Resident care</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 14 Jan 2020 22:07:22 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/?p=6976</guid>
      <dc:creator>Dr. El</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2020-01-14T22:07:22Z</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Getting ‘hygge’ with it, at the holidays and year-round</title>
      <link>http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/getting-hygge-with-it-at-the-holidays-and-year-round/</link>
      <description>Getting ‘hygge’ with it, at the holidays and year-round I know, I know, that’s not how the word is pronounced. But as soon as I read about the Danish concept of coziness, I got that darn Will Smith song (“Gettin Jiggy With It”) in my head and I can’t get it out. Hygge (actually pronounced [&amp;#8230;]</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/getting-hygge-with-it-at-the-holidays-and-year-round/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Getting ‘hygge’ with it, at the holidays and year-round&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;I know, I know, that’s not how the word is pronounced. But as soon as I read about the Danish concept of coziness, I got that darn Will Smith song (“&lt;a href="https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1cv55"&gt;Gettin Jiggy With It&lt;/a&gt;”) in my head and I can’t get it out.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Hygge (actually pronounced “hyoo-guh”) refers to the creation of a comforting, convivial environment. Think hot cocoa, warm blankets and crackling fireplaces, with loved ones.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;It sounds so charming that I resolved to apply hygge to an upcoming vacation. I decided to mix local sightseeing with a few days saved for the pleasures of cooking, reading a book and watching movies with an occasional bowl of popcorn under a comforter with my family. And, of course, I considered how the idea could be applied to long-term care facilities.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Nursing homes, which could generally do with an increased focus on “home” over “nursing,” have many reasons and opportunities to add some hygge.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;First and foremost is the chance to “flip the script” about being in a confined environment. Residents who have infrequent opportunities to get outside under the best of circumstances and even fewer chances during inclement weather, often feel depressed or resentful regarding their confinement. Practicing hygge offers a mental shift from a perception of restriction to one of comfort.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Holiday hygge&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;During the holidays, residents may observe peers going out for day passes and family members arriving for visits. For those without passes or visitors, using hygge concepts can ease their emotional pain in a kind, simple manner that emphasizes their belonging to a group.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;While holiday activities such as seasonal movies and Christmas caroling are wonderful, a hygge approach would suggest adding periods of quieter comforts such as lap blankets, a fireplace video and a story read aloud. Some people might enjoy crocheting or drawing during this communal activity. If the kitchen sent up a batch of warm cookies, so much the better.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Staff hygge&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Residents may not be the only ones less-than-thrilled about being at the facility on a holiday. While many staff members consider their LTC jobs a calling and are gracious about being of service to elders on Christmas or New Year’s Eve, others may be disgruntled with the holiday shift and may “leak” their emotions to their charges.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;A hygge approach can soften staff resentment.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;For the entire article, visit:&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/getting-hygge-with-it-at-the-holidays-and-year-round/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;Getting ‘hygge’ with it, at the holidays and year-round&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6969" src="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/warm-and-cozy-1975215_1920-2-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" srcset="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/warm-and-cozy-1975215_1920-2-300x200.jpg 300w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/warm-and-cozy-1975215_1920-2-550x367.jpg 550w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/warm-and-cozy-1975215_1920-2.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Customer service</category>
      <category>McKnight's Long-Term Care News</category>
      <category>Resident care</category>
      <category>Stress/Crisis management</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 17 Dec 2019 15:36:06 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/?p=6968</guid>
      <dc:creator>Dr. El</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2019-12-17T15:36:06Z</dc:date>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Minister for Loneliness in LTC</title>
      <link>http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/the-minister-for-loneliness-in-ltc/</link>
      <description>The Minister for Loneliness in LTC According to researcher Julianne Holt-Lunstad of Brigham Young University, loneliness has a greater impact on health than smoking 15 cigarettes daily, or obesity, which is associated with 300,000 to 600,000 deaths a year in the United States alone. In England, the “loneliness epidemic” has reached such proportions that they’ve [&amp;#8230;]</description>
      <content:encoded>&lt;h3&gt;&lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/the-minister-for-loneliness-in-ltc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;The Minister for Loneliness in LTC&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;According to researcher Julianne Holt-Lunstad of Brigham Young University, loneliness has a greater impact on health than smoking 15 cigarettes daily, or obesity, which is associated with 300,000 to 600,000 deaths a year in the United States alone.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In England, the “loneliness epidemic” has reached such proportions that they’ve appointed a Minister for Loneliness to address the problem.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This idea led me to consider the benefits of designating such a position in long-term care. Yes, we have recreation departments that encourage resident socialization, but a Minister for Loneliness could do so much more. The Minister also could target staff loneliness and the isolation of those in the community.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Minimizing staff loneliness has the potential to reduce turnover, alleviate staff stress and improve the culture of the organization. Seeking to decrease the isolation of those in the neighborhood would enhance the reputation of the facility as a community player and create a way for locals to connect with the home before they need it, so that it becomes a natural choice for later care.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Below are some ideas of ways in which the Minister for Loneliness could affect change (but there doesn’t need to be a formal role to try these suggestions).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;For residents and their families, the minister could: &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Establish a communal table for residents interested in engaging with peers for a particular meal.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Ensure that residents who needed hearing aids and other assistive devices had fully functioning equipment available.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Train staff to facilitate like-minded friendships between residents, seating them together at meals and during activities.&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h3&gt;For the entire article, visit:  &lt;a href="https://www.mcknights.com/blogs/the-world-according-to-dr-el/the-minister-for-loneliness-in-ltc/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"&gt;The Minister for Loneliness in LTC&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/h3&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;img loading="lazy" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-6961" src="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/smiling-man-sitting-in-front-of-blue-table-1474705-300x176.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="176" srcset="http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/smiling-man-sitting-in-front-of-blue-table-1474705-300x176.jpg 300w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/smiling-man-sitting-in-front-of-blue-table-1474705-550x324.jpg 550w, http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/wp-content/uploads/smiling-man-sitting-in-front-of-blue-table-1474705.jpg 765w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content:encoded>
      <category>Business Strategies</category>
      <category>Depression/Mental illness/Substance Abuse</category>
      <category>McKnight's Long-Term Care News</category>
      <pubDate>Tue, 03 Dec 2019 14:19:07 GMT</pubDate>
      <guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mybetternursinghome.com/?p=6960</guid>
      <dc:creator>Dr. El</dc:creator>
      <dc:date>2019-12-03T14:19:07Z</dc:date>
    </item>
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