Using ocean-themed therapy to engage a dementia patient during her field placement taught social work graduate student Bonnie (Zhi) Dong many useful lessons. Dong highlights the importance of creativity, patience and presence in dementia care, drawing on theories such as person-centered treatment and trauma-informed care.

Marine veteran Glenn Satterthwaite has transitioned from active duty to studying social work at Troy University, inspired by a clinical social worker he met at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Satterthwaite, who is interning with Covington County Department of Human Resources, plans to pursue a Master of Social Work at the university.

Engaging in physical activity in natural, outdoor settings can significantly enhance psychological well-being, according to research. Outdoor exercise in green spaces may help reduce anxiety and anger, boost energy and positive affect, and alleviate depression symptoms more effectively than working out in urban environments.

Telemedicine can improve psychological well-being and quality of life for patients with dementia, ease symptoms of depression and anxiety and alleviate caregiver burdens, according to a review in JMIR Mental Health. However, the technology's effectiveness can vary, and it is less beneficial for people with advanced dementia or those without adequate support.

The Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee has advanced a bill designed to address violence in health care workplaces. The bill mandates comprehensive violence-prevention systems and introduces new criminal penalties for assaults on health care workers. It also proposes requiring annual reporting of violence incidents to the Department of Public Health and regional district attorneys.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that the standard monthly premium for Medicare Part B will rise to $202.90 in 2026, up nearly 10% over the previous year. The annual Part B deductible will also increase by 10%, reaching $283. The Senior Citizens League notes that this marks the third consecutive year in which Part B premiums have outpaced Social Security cost-of-living adjustments.

Don't leave your team confused about who is doing what after a meeting ends, write Karin Hurt and David Dye, who recommend using the last five minutes of a meeting to clarify decisions and assign tasks, and then send an email afterward clearly outlining assignments, ownership and deadlines. "Don't leave ownership in the air. Document it, share it, and reference it next time," they write.

Diversity, equity and inclusion have been a corporate buzzword, but with initiatives under threat from the government, Ben Ralston, the CEO of The Sachs Foundation, argues that leaders must uphold inclusivity as a moral obligation and require clear commitments instead of superficial compliance. "We will likely make more progress if we stop discussing the acronym altogether and start debating the values," Ralston notes.