The longstanding story of long-term care staffing is that organizations can’t afford to increase the salaries of their workers due to Medicaid reimbursement deficits, rising expenses, tight margins and...
If toileting were a billable service …
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 16, 2019
Imagine how things would change if toileting were a billable service. It might not be as laughable as it first appears.
Once upon a time, before profit ruled the land, there were missions
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 06, 2021
In the old days, Young Readers, before the goal of eldercare was merely profit, nursing homes used to have things called “missions.” Missions focused on the well-being of the elders they cared for...
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...
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...
From blame to education: Rethinking the nursing home survey process
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Nov 17, 2020
What if, instead of a system based on the notion that nursing homes should be punished for deliberately flouting the rules, the underlying belief was that facilities were trying to do their best?
Falls: A closer look
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 15, 2017
Speedy assistance should be the norm when falls occur, but the reality is that it’s frequently a rarity. The staff is often stretched too thin. What can be done, aside from ensuring adequate staffing,...
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.
Is your workplace healthy?
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
May 16, 2013
I’m a big advocate of taking small steps in the direction of change. Perhaps your organization isn’t in the position of being able to upgrade the health insurance package or to install an onsite...
McDonald’s versus long-term care: How nursing homes can compete for staff
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 22, 2020
Recent calls1, 2, 3 for an increase in nursing staff levels may have providers wondering how to accomplish this. Under normal circumstances it can be challenging to find qualified individuals; the pandemic...