Sandra Gaffney entered her first nursing home for long-term care at the unusually young age of fifty. Fourteen years earlier she had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Over the next sixteen years, Gaffney lived in nursing homes in Florida, Virginia, and Minnesota, as the ways she could be close to family changed. She describes her situation in these words: "As a nursing home resident, I require total or maximum care. I have limited use of my hands and arms. With special splints, I am able to turn the pages of my books, use the telephone and TV/VCR/FM radio remote control. When my cup is positioned properly, I can drink independently. I am able to walk with a platform walker and the help of two nursing assistants. My walking is not functional; it is only for exercise. After I moved into my third nursing home, I learned to operate a power wheelchair by using an adaptive switch between my knees. ... All other areas of physical care have to be done for me. My speech is impaired. If people listen carefully, they can understand what I am saying. ... I am able to eat regular food and breathe on my own." Gaffney became an acute observer and strategist about how to live in a nursing home. Her first-person account, dictated to family members and assistants, covers making the decision to enter a nursing home, choosing the right one, and understanding its culture. She talks about how to furnish your room and about all the issues that arise in a resident's typical day. She has much to say about communication with staff and family about "how to help others help me." Gaffney's daughters, Amy and Bridget, and her friend Ellen Potter provide additional perspectives on the caregiving experience.

Fisher identifies the seven most common causes of nursing home admission, delves into each cause, and outlines the key strategies for protecting yourself from these pitfalls.

The personal, household, and consumer finance field is growing quite rapidly, especially as universities and policy makers see the need for additional research and clinical application in this dynamic area of study. Currently, the profession is advancing towards the stage where professional practice becomes increasingly evidenced-based. Financial Planning and Counseling Scales provides educators, researchers, students, and practitioners with a much needed review of reliable and valid personal assessment scales and instruments that can be used for both research and clinical practice. In addition to presenting actual scales and instruments with applicable psychometric details, the book also includes an overview of measurement issues and psychometric evaluation.

Gertie Manser has been put in the Cardinal Hill's Nursing Home against her will. She is not going to take this sitting down.

“This in-depth, evidence-based roadmap to high-quality care in nursing homes is a powerful compilation of the expertise of leaders in our field. This is a must-read!” –Heather M. Young, PhD, RN, FAAN, FGSA Professor, Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, University of California, Davis “I highly recommend this exceptional book. It’s timely, comprehensive, and written by distinguished authors and interprofessional contributors who are among the very best in the field.” –Kathleen (Kitty) Buckwalter, PhD, RN, FAAN Professor of Research & Distinguished Nurse Scientist in Aging Donald W. Reynolds Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, College of Nursing Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center Professor Emerita, University of Iowa College of Nursing Long-term care settings are highly regulated environments where the emphasis historically has been on compliance. Many misconceptions persist about practice in nursing homes, and these go largely unaddressed within nursing education programs. Herein lines one of the significant barriers to improving nursing home care. Practice & Leadership in Nursing Homes dispels many misconceptions and provides a foundation for clinical practice in a unique, exciting setting—illustrating how high-quality nursing care can result in positive resident outcomes. This book challenges educators and students to look beyond incorrect perceptions and negative attitudes to see a vibrant, growing healthcare sector ripe for nurses to make an impact and build rewarding careers. Expert authors cover the following and more: · Comprehensive care planning · Models of care delivery · Common geriatric syndromes · Staff development and training · Nursing home financing and regulatory information ABOUT THE AUTHORS JoAnne Reifsnyder, PhD, MSN, MBA, RN, FAAN, is Professor, Health Services Leadership and Management, at the University of Maryland School of Nursing. She has held executive and leadership roles in hospice, hospice-related medication management, and skilled nursing. Ann Kolanowski, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Professor Emerita at the Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing and conducts research on nonpharmacological interventions for symptoms of distress and delirium in people living with dementia in nursing homes. Jacqueline Dunbar-Jacob, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Distinguished Service Professor and Dean Emeritus (Nursing) at the University of Pittsburgh. She was the founding Co-chair of the Implementation Steering Committee for the 2021 Essentials for the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

Learn to start open, productive talks about money with your parents as they age As your parents age, you may find that you want or need to broach the often-difficult subject of finances. In Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk: How to Have Essential Conversations with Your Parents About Their Finances, you’ll learn the best ways to approach this issue, along with a wealth of financial and legal information that will help you help your parents into and through their golden years. Sometimes parents are reluctant to address money matters with their adult children, and topics such as long-term care, retirement savings (or lack thereof), and end-of-life planning can be particularly touchy. In this book, you’ll hear from others in your position who have successfully had “the talk” with their parents, and you’ll read about a variety of conversation strategies that can make talking finances more comfortable and more productive. Learn conversation starters and strategies to open the lines of communication about your parents’ finances Discover the essential financial and legal information you should gather from your parents to be prepared for the future Gain insight from others’ stories of successfully talking money with aging parents Gather the courage, hope, and motivation you need to broach difficult subjects such as care facilities and end-of-life plans For children of Baby Boomers and others looking to assist aging parents with their finances, Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk is a welcome and comforting read. Although talking money with your parents can be hard, you aren’t alone, and this book will guide you through the process of having fruitful financial conversations that lead to meaningful action.

The author, a U.S. elder law attorney, uses real-life examples to illustrate how to evaluate current nursing home practices and policies, along with alternative care and associated living choices available for older adults; includes appendices with a nursing home visit evaluation checklist for prospective residents and their family and home care licensing guidelines by state.