Grim but unwavering: Notes from the COVID-19 epicenter
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 07, 2020
Hopefully, facilities in other parts of the country will be spared what we’re going through in New York City, where 1 in 4 facilities had COVID residents as of last week’s reports. It is, in a word,...
And the Oscar goes to…
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jan 28, 2020
Rather than stew about the overdressed, self-congratulators flaunting at the Academy Awards ceremony, I’ve decided to give out my own Oscars — to the loving, deserving stakeholders in the various...
The last-minute guide to trauma-informed care
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Nov 19, 2019
For those who might not be completely ready for the Nov. 28 start date of trauma-related F-tags, I offer some basics on trauma-informed care practices.
Having My Say: The perils that loom with trauma-informed care
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Nov 14, 2019
Trauma-informed care is becoming a mandate later this month, and while I think it’s a good thing to pay more attention to the emotional experience of residents, I’m worried about how asking them about...
Life on the road as an LTC shrink
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Oct 08, 2019
It wasn’t a world tour, but I did come away with some interesting observations regarding our field on a recent road trip.
What worries me about trauma-informed care
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 10, 2019
It’s a good thing to pay more attention to the emotional experience of residents, but I’m worried about how asking them about their traumas — which is mandated in a new rule about to go into effect...
Enhancing resident independence
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 02, 2019
As we celebrate our freedoms in the country this week, perhaps we can consider ways in which to create a better balance between the need to provide a safe environment for residents and their right to make...
Benefits of acknowledging success
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 09, 2019
Dealing with extensive regulations, reimbursement challenges, elaborate documentation requirements and a punitive environment can erode the joy of helping elders. Acclamation for accomplishments, on the...
Why Five-Star ratings should measure staff retention, not staff ratios
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Mar 26, 2019
If we shift to a system that measures staff retention rather than staff ratios, the whole picture changes.
Healthcare changes that burn me out — and burn me up
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Dec 04, 2018
The aspect of a changing healthcare landscape that most increases my likelihood of burnout is the prioritization of short-term profits over the care needs of residents and the preservation of a tolerable...