An anecdote that touches on the impact of where residents are placed within the facility, the value of consistent staffing and the importance of “leaning in” to meet residents where they’re at emotionally.
How to support depressed workers and reduce absenteeism
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 11, 2018
As a consulting psychologist, my official job is to provide psychological services to the residents of the nursing homes in which I work. Occasionally, though, I’m asked by a department head to informally...
9 reasons why it’s better to congregate than disperse short-term rehab residents
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 28, 2018
In most of my long-term care career, I’ve witnessed short-term rehabilitation residents housed together. But not always. I don’t know the reasoning behind dispersing residents, but from my...
Enhancing organizational communication improves outcomes, reduces adverse incidents
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jun 05, 2018
There will always be adverse events in any health system, but strengthening communication between team members and between different levels within the organization can improve outcomes and reduce the likelihood...
Why it’s impossible to maintain prior levels of care quality, and what to do about it
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 24, 2018
Residents and their family members are likely to expect that when they enter long-term care, staff members will provide compassionate medical treatment. Instead, what they frequently find are stressed...
The importance of leadership in creating good deaths in LTC
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 10, 2018
In one of the more disturbing encounters I’ve had in long-term care — in a 5-Star deficiency-free nursing home — I offered my condolences to an aide on the loss of a resident she’d cared...
Disaster communication: A tale of two mothers-in-law
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 26, 2017
Both of my mothers-in-law live in long-term care communities in Florida. One lives in a place that was excellent about how they communicated with family members before, during and after Hurricane Irma....
The violent workplace
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
May 23, 2017
It’s impossible to prevent all tragic events at a long-term care facility, especially those involving an armed assailant entering the building despite an order of protection against him like in Ohio...
Enthusiasm and ingenious inventions at the NYC Aging2.0 Global Startup Pitch Event
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Mar 28, 2017
Moving beyond the development of medical products for seniors, Aging2.0 seeks to facilitate collaborations between senior care providers and entrepreneurs to create products and services that can be integrated...
Suicide prevention in older adults
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Nov 08, 2016
In preparing for a webinar on suicide prevention, I came across startling statistics about suicide rates among older adults. Despite the concern we often hear about teen suicide, the rate for elders is...