When we think of teamwork in long-term care, we envision a group of dedicated specialists reading notes from other disciplines, bouncing ideas off colleagues and convening care plan meetings. In reality,...
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...
How to find out why your staff is leaving
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Oct 27, 2015
Some of the reasons employees leave are beyond our control. But many are not. Here’s how to start figuring out how to stop the flow and reduce turnover.
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...
3 surprising reasons to strengthen your resident council
Oct 11, 2016
Forget about worries of them eating up staff time or triggering something bad on surveys, resident councils can be awesome for your facility and here’s why.
What’s all this about PBJ?
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 30, 2016
Why are they keeping track of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? I appreciate their concern that residents might have our lunches served late, but what about the tuna fish sandwiches? And the chicken?...
What if psychologists ruled the (LTC) world…
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 24, 2014
While most psychologists almost exclusively address the mental health of nursing residents due to the current reimbursement system, we’re also aware of the interactions between staff members, families,...
The tumult of turnover
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 31, 2018
I once rode down a crowded afternoon elevator with the CEO of a managed care company. “It must be 5:01,” he commented wryly. I heard a measure of scorn for his employees’ lack of dedication...
Promote your connections
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jun 20, 2017
One of the things that most brightens my workday is when I see long-term care residents hanging out together.
Reducing antipsych meds: 5 ways psychologists can help
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 04, 2014
With the mandate to reduce the use of antipsychotics, many facilities are looking for alternative methods to address the behaviors often associated with dementia. There are several good resources available...