Meg LaPorte

Sophie Cozier, 98

What do you like about your age? “That I get to make it from day to day. Every day I wake up is a day I am very grateful for. I also get to look back on a lifetime full of memories of family and friends. Everyday, I get to see my children and…

Ruth Burdbam, 89

What do you like about your age? “I like the wisdom that you get with age. I now understand many things I did not know when I was younger. I did not appreciate the joy around me as much as I do now, and I used to try to control things that were out…

3 ways to dismantle ageism today

The pandemic has given us a few reasons to take on ageism as an industry. To begin, the fact that nursing homes and assisted living communities were not prioritized for receipt of PPE and testing early in the pandemic points to an ageist attitude…

Larry, (Part 2 of 2)

What happened to your wife? “[After she left], I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t have a phone and that’s why I have this phone now. I will never be without a phone again. After a while, I said, “thank goodness,” because she had become very violent.…

Larry, 68 (1 of 2)

How has pandemic affected your life? “It has stopped me from doing a whole bunch of things. It stopped me from coming out here on a regular basis. I miss some folks. We always have to keep this far apart. I think most of us aren’t accustomed to being…

Nancy, 85

How has the pandemic affected you? There are all kinds of restrictions. I’m not allowed to leave here now except for doctor’s appointments. Our little shrinking world shrank more. This place is very nice. My daughter picked it out. I just love this…

An iPod And A Mission

Meg LaPorte Dan Cohen’s goal to bring music to all of the nation’s 16,000 nursing facilities is a lofty one. But he is determined to do in in a unique way—with iPods (or other MP3 players) loaded with individualized musical playlists. As executive…

Latoria: CNA Hero

What is it like to be a CNA , amid this pandemic? Latoria: “Right now, working in this pandemic is very very scary especially with these numbers still rising and we are on the frontline every day. As a CNA I have to protect myself as well as…

Malinda: CNA Hero

What’s it like to be a CNA right now? “I have been in this field for over 20 years and right now it is so heartbreaking for our seniors. Every day we are all they see and talk to. Some of them think and feel like their families have forgotten them…

Jami (Part 2): CNA Hero

What’s it like to be a CNA right now? Jami: “If the job of a CNA was easy, there wouldn’t be a shortage of them. But there is. If the job of a CNA was just wiping butts, they wouldn’t know their residents’ favorite foods, or when they prefer coffee…

April: CNA Hero

What is it like to be a CNA right now? April: “I am a Hospice Aide and for me right now it is hard. I have patients that are in facilities that are not allowed to see their loved ones and it breaks my heart. I cry every morning because I have to tell…

Jennifer: CNA Hero

What’s it like to be a CNA right now? Jennifer: “To be a CNA right is a Blessing and a Big Honor…. I am currently a hospice home health CNA. I see most of my patients in a facility and the way they are having to see family will make you just want to…

Amanda: CNA Hero

What is it like to be a CNA right now? Amanda: “Everyday things are changing: policies, safety measures, caseloads, and even our teams. We have to be able to manage these changes while still giving 100% all of the time. Adaptability and flexibility…

Kate: CNA Hero

Q: What is something you would like people to know about being a CNA right now? Kate: “Being a CNA right now makes me feel glad I’m in nursing because I care about what I do but also I have the ability to care for myself. I’ve been fortunate to work…

Kim: CNA Hero

How have things changed at your place of work since COVID-19? “As a personal care aide (PCA) caring for elderly/frail/disabled in their own homes during COVID-19, my case load has tripled. I have not been provided any PPE at all. My clients are all…

Elder Care Heroes

It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted here. Life, work, and a host of distracting experiences, some good and some not so good, have kept me from keeping up with this blog. More recently, COVID-19 has changed a lot for me—just as it has for most…

Stop Giving Lip Service to CNAs

A few reasons why you should your staff to CNA Fest next year! By Meg LaPorte Over the past 18 years of working in this field, I have had the good fortune of interviewing, studying, and writing about a wide variety of aging services…

Ready for PDPM?

It’s been an open secret that the federal government has, for years, wanted to change long-term care’s payment system from one rewarding volume of services to one that pays for quality outcomes instead. The new Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) may…

Anne, 99

“When I heard the music I was set for life. I just had to dance. My grandfather used to take time to the Paradise Theater in New York, and I used to say, ‘take me early,’ so I could get in the front row.” Watch Anne talk about her experience as a…

Avoiding injuries

Pressure ulcers and the accompanying task of preserving residents’ skin integrity are never-ending challenges for long-term care providers. Not only is the treatment of pressure ulcers lengthy, it also costs an estimated $11 billion per year in the…