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?...
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...
Full code: Discussing advance directives
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jun 07, 2016
Assistance in creating a “good death” is a fundamental task of any organization working with elders and may be addressed by a number of team members singly or in combination. Since these discussions...
Help for hoarders, and those who care for them
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 12, 2016
When it comes to dealing with residents who are hoarders, facilities are often caught between a rock and a hard place. Here’s how to deal with it.
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...
Upcoming quality initiatives
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Mar 01, 2016
More quality initiatives are on the horizon for many providers, and they address a wide array of necessary topics. Here are a couple of experts’ insights.
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.
7 powerful ways to deliver family-centered care
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 15, 2015
When a resident enters long-term care, we tend to focus solely on the needs of the resident, even though they’re almost always part of a family system that is being affected by their placement. If...
The high cost of rudeness
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 01, 2015
Given the stresses of caregiving and the complexities of human relationships, incivility happens. But considering the potential impact of rudeness on care, we need to do more to understand and prevent...
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...