I was at the nursing station the other day when some unusual cracking noises caused me to look up from my documentation. A very old, petite lady was sitting in her wheelchair popping bubble wrap. She wore...
New LTC resources from some of the best
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Dec 06, 2016
Over the past year, I’ve been involved with several exciting long-term care-related projects that I can now tell you about. In the spirit of the season, I wanted to spread some good cheer with them,...
From abysmal to mediocre: Encouraging hand hygiene
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jun 21, 2016
I’ve become more diligent over the years (read: paranoid) about making an effort to sanitize my hands as I move from room to room. But I wonder about those whose roles in long-term care don’t...
Dr. El’s subversive guide to culture change
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Feb 02, 2016
Culture change can be portrayed as many things. One possibility often overlooked is its being a grassroots effort that shifts the dynamics between residents, staff and community, one unit at a time.
7 employee wellness ideas for the holidays (and beyond)
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Dec 08, 2015
After a staff training on reducing burnout in long-term care last week, a look through the evaluation forms was illuminating. A significant number of attendees — mostly nursing aides, nurses, and environmental...
Harnessing gratitude
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jun 09, 2015
Though it was close to 20 years ago, I’ll never forget the reaction of one of my patients to losing both of her legs to diabetes. Residents like her make it quite clear that it is possible to be...
The many riches of senior living conferences
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
May 12, 2015
I’ve been fortunate enough to attend several senior living conventions recently and my enthusiasm for the experience has yet to diminish. You would feel the same way, and here’s why.
‘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...
Senior bullying: How to recognize it, how to handle it
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Mar 04, 2015
We’ve come a long way with many psycho-social problem areas. Children, for example, start learning about bullies in kindergarten. When it comes to bullying in senior communities, though, we’re...
Reflections after an LTC and senior living summit
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Feb 17, 2015
Last week, I delivered a keynote address on “Identifying and Repairing Communication Gaps in LTC” at an LTC and Senior Living Summit. It was a fascinating, energizing event, and not just because...