Informative Online Blogs for Nursing Home Administrators
• American Association of Retired Persons
• Baird Group Blogs on Healthcare
• American Association of Directors of Nursing Nurse Leader Blog
• My Better Nursing Home Blog
• SeniorAdvisor.com Blog
Blogs for nursing home administrators can broaden their knowledge base as they manage the daily operations of a long-term care facility. Their many responsibilities include managing staff and services, admitting patients, handling purchases and finances, observing healthcare regulations, and being responsible for the overall services and functioning of the facility.
A long-term care facility will not succeed without dedicated workers. There are many instances of failed institutions caused by neglect and uncaring staff. A successful administrator is someone who not only manages the operations well, but can maintain worker morale and create a caring atmosphere in which patients can thrive. The following five blogs for nursing home administrators provide rich information that would be helpful in creating a successful nursing home facility.
1. American Association for Retired Persons
The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) publishes a blog on nursing homes that looks at a variety of current issues related to the needs of seniors. This is a good place for nursing home administrators to keep up with current activity concerning health care legislation. There are a number of blog entries on money matters affecting seniors and senior services. A recent entry on new AARP research on tech usage reports on the results of a survey showing the extent of current tech usage by seniors. There were differences among those in their 60s, 70s or 80s in the devices used for communication and for online banking and shopping.
2. Baird Group Blogs on Healthcare
The Baird Group produces blogs on a number of healthcare topics that can be helpful to the nursing home administrator. They provide a comprehensive list of blog topics ranging from Accountability to Working Holidays. An example is the post, “Want to Change the Culture? Start with the Words You Choose,” that explains how words shape the atmosphere of the workplace. Blogs such as Body Language, Empathy, Listening, Nonverbal Communication, Trust, and Values illuminate how subtle factors can influence the attitudes prevalent among workers in an organization. Advice given in blogs such as Leadership, Conflict Resolution, Staff Relations, Goal Setting and Creative Problem Solving will augment a nursing home administrator’s management skills.
Recommended reading: What are the Prerequisites for a Master’s in Healthcare Administration?
3. Nurse Leader Blog
Nurse Leader Blog is a service of the American Association of Directors of Nursing Services (AADNS). This organization supports nurse leaders with information, education, resources and legislative representation. The Nurse Leader Blog refers the reader to conferences, webinars and courses. It also provides tips for becoming a successful nurse leader, and shares experiences of nurse leaders who were effective in providing quality services to elders and the disabled. Other challenges facing nurse leaders are discussed, such as the struggle between workers of different generations, and effective ways to lead millennials. There are also inspiring blogs voicing views on long-term care today by experienced nursing administrative leaders.
4. My Better Nursing Home
My Better Nursing Home is authored by Psychologist Eleanor Feldman Barbera and contains guides to create positive changes in nursing homes. Her intent is to develop environments that lead to growth, emotional healing and creativity not just for residents, but for staff members and families as well. A recent article, “Taking teamwork to a deeper level,” calls for including all workers including housekeepers, security guards, laundry workers and maintenance staff in in-service training to develop an understanding of different roles and to open up communication and boost morale. Other articles cover a wide range of topics, all directed toward improving the quality of nursing home care.
5. SeniorAdvisor.com Blog
SeniorAdvisor.com is an organization that provides information to seniors and their families about assisted living options to help them find the most suitable solution for their needs. Their blog provides a wide range of information that address issues and problems faced by the elderly. For example, the blog post, “When Your Parents May Need Help” presents those changes that are signs showing parents may need help, and those red flags that indicate definite and immediate need for help. Other blogs provide potential solutions or available resources for a variety of problems facing seniors in all aspects of their lives.
Beyond all the learning from the above blogs, the nursing home administrator needs to stay abreast of current issues that impact care of the elderly nursing home facilities. This article by the National Academy of Medieine presents the views of five leading researchers, scientists and policymakers on these issues and complements the nursing home administrator blogs presented above.
