In the wee hours of the night I recently discovered a Facebook post about a company founded by two brothers called Life is Good. It emerged from the standing request the founders’ mother had for...
‘Okie El’ rocks out, and then veges out
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 28, 2015
My first-ever trip to Oklahoma for a speaking engagement recently included no fringed surries. But there was a bustling, well-run long-term conference, animated conversations with attendees, life-altering...
The very anxious resident: A team approach
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
May 15, 2014
I’ve developed a set of suggestions for working with “challenging,” anxious residents, who can disrupt everyone around them. If caregivers don’t have sound strategies like these,...
Clone this woman. Steal this idea.
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Mar 29, 2016
“Trudy’s here!” exclaimed the resident I’d been speaking with, excusing herself for a moment to exchange a few dollars for a bottle of lotion. “She buys me the things I can’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.
Everything I need to know I learned from my residents
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
May 30, 2013
Someone posted a story I Liked on Facebook about an 85-year old woman who graduated from college and already had a job offer. “She’s my new hero!” a Friend commented. That got me thinking...
4 ways to revamp work culture in the new year
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jan 02, 2018
Ahhh. A new year. It’s time for a fresh start, the chance to take life in a different direction. Whatever our roles in long-term care, there are steps each of us can take to enhance the way we treat...
Stuff I won’t do for residents and why your staff shouldn’t either: preventing burnout in...
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jan 09, 2014
In my last post, I wrote about some of the many things I do for residents as a long-term care psychologist. The astute reader will note that most of the tasks were accomplished during work hours and within...
‘Just a picture of her butt’ — an analysis
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Feb 16, 2016
Wondering how an employee could possibly think posting a photo of a resident’s behind to social media would be a reasonable action to take, I contacted a psychologist and social media expert.
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?...