Would you want to live in the LTC home where you work?
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Oct 17, 2013
I used to live in a fabulous old fourth-floor walk-up apartment in Manhattan. When I moved out of Manhattan to a borough of New York City for an elevator building with a laundry room in the basement, I...
‘Derek’ — a long-term care shrink’s view
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Oct 03, 2013
I was very pleased when I heard there was a program about a long-term care facility on British television. Finally we’re getting our props — at least overseas.
Care model for more than just medical condition needed in long-term care
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 20, 2013
Of the most efficient countries for healthcare, the United States ranks second in healthcare costs per capita but 46th in efficiency (out of the 48 countries ranked!). The move from a biomedical to a biopsychosocial...
Same-sex couples: Are you and your staff prepared? Probably not
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 05, 2013
Last week, McKnight’s staff writer Tim Mullaney wrote about the new Medicare guidance that guarantees that same-sex married couples can live in the same nursing home. Is your staff prepared to offer...
6 common problems a shrink on staff can solve (and your consultant can’t)
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 22, 2013
As a psychologist consulting in long-term care facilities, I provided a lot more than I was paid for, because it was needed. But there was much more help that I didn’t offer, not only because I wasn’t...
Suicide risk in LTC: Effective protocols may not be what you think
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 08, 2013
According to researchers, 11% to 43% of LTC residents have thoughts of suicide, with higher rates in larger facilities and in those with more staff turnover. Other stressors include medical illness, the...
Meeting boomer needs at LeadingAge Florida
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 25, 2013
Social connections, individual preferences and strong resident councils are among the ideas for what makes a strong long-term care facility.
Reducing learned helplessness in LTC
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 11, 2013
John O’Connor’s recent post on the pain/depression cycle raised some interesting points about depression in long-term care. Reducing learned helplessness that is often seen in depression is...
Young adults in long-term care: a new resource for caregivers
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jun 27, 2013
Nearly one in seven nursing home residents is now under the age of 65, and the number could rise. That’s creating challenges for caregiving staffs that could blossom into big problems — if caregivers...
5 lessons long-term care providers can learn from Joan Lunden
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jun 13, 2013
Award-winning journalist and author Joan Lunden has learned a lot from dealing with her 94-year-old mother’s housing and care. Also a physician’s daughter, she recently passed along to me some...