WCO Blog

Physical Changes of Aging  It is important to recognize that people age differently, so what is presented here may not be exactly what you or your loved one experience. Also, even though there are many challenges of aging, these can often be addressed through simple steps that improve communication and make the environment safer and […]

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Understanding Death and Dying Preparing for death often means finishing a life’s work, setting things right with family and friends, and making peace with the inevitable. Spiritual and religious issues are important to many dying people and their families. Members of the clergy are part of the care team in some hospice and […]

The title—borrowed from a nurses’ desk calendar—is self-explanatory. The situations that give rise to these sayings, however, are not. OK, I’ll have to admit that I got the idea for this piece from a desk calendar my sister gave me for Christmas last year. It’s 365 pages of nursing funnies, some of which really aren’t, […]

“A very important member of staff,” is how Dr Denis Ogolla, the managing director of Nairobi’s Avenue Healthcare, describes Irene Kaberere. She is the head of support services at the hospital. Over the years, she earned trust due to her dedication to work which saw her rise through the ranks. On her way up, she […]

The increasing elderly population combined with advances in technology in the medical field is increasing the demand for nurse aides. In fact the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 28 percent growth in nurse aide positions between 2006 and 2016. People looking for an entry-level position in the healthcare field may find this is […]

It might not be pretty, but a Dutch graphic designer believes that a new font he’s developed can help people with dyslexia read more easily. Graphic designer Christian Boer developed the typeface, called Dyslexie, back in 2008. And while it isn’t the first font created specifically to help dyslectics, it may be the first backed […]

As growing numbers of Americans age and need extended care, long-term care organizations have sought to better meet both the healthcare and social needs of their residents. Those who reach the point in life where nursing home care is necessary do not want to live in an environment that feels like a hospital instead of […]

As growing numbers of Americans age and need extended care, long-term care organizations have sought to better meet both the healthcare and social needs of their residents. Those who reach the point in life where nursing home care is necessary do not want to live in an environment that feels like a hospital instead of […]

Neuroscience research during the past 10 years has made great strides in documenting the relationship between music and the brain. The New York Academy of Sciences Music, Science and Medicine conference recently brought together leading researchers to share what we now know about music and its impact on Alzheimer’s disease, pain, Parkinson’s, coma and autism. […]

As the social services and activity director in a 92-bed skilled nursing facility, I am fortunate to share in a precious season of residents’ lives. For most of them, this is the final “home” that they will have this side of heaven. It is our motto that they don’t come here to die but to live. […]

A new study by the AARP estimates that for the more than 40 million Americans caring for an elderly or disabled loved one, the value of their work is $450 billion a year. That’s a good deal for society. But for the family members doing the work, the study finds they need a lot more […]