Culture change, the Eden Alternative, whatever you call it, things are moving in that direction. In my experience, the nursing home I worked in that was most attentive to the psychosocial needs of the...
Employee recognition programs: What works
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jan 21, 2014
After Ms. Ryan’s psychotherapy session, I stopped at the nursing station and asked the nurse for the name of her aide. The nurse pointed to a uniformed woman right next to me, who turned and asked...
Improving your customer service for the holidays
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Nov 14, 2013
The upcoming holidays are an ideal time to provide extra services that showcase your high level of care and make the seasons more pleasant for families and residents.
Telemental health: Who, what, when, where, why you should use it
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Nov 01, 2013
Since I now Skype regularly with my 94-year old father-in-law and his wife, the concept of telemental health doesn’t seem as futuristic to me as it used to seem. I was shocked to discover, however,...
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...
Your best competitive advantage? A solid social work department
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 05, 2013
I have great respect for those who attend to the often complicated physical needs of our long-term care residents, but if your facility doesn’t have a solid social service department, it isn’t...
Long-term care psychologists often can help prevent rehospitalizations
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Oct 09, 2012
Long-term care psychologists are a valuable resource for facilities looking to reduce their hospital readmission rates.
The ‘single’ boom: problems and solutions for long-term care
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 27, 2012
Demographic trends suggest we need to prepare for increasing numbers of residents without close relatives. Here are four ways we can expect this shift to impact our residents, and suggestions for how we...
Improving the treatment of mental health issues in nursing homes
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jun 01, 2010
More attention should be paid to nursing home residents’ mental health, an important but often overlooked aspect of care.