Most nursing home residents I’ve encountered ironically have their own prejudices about aging and older adults. This is harmful in a variety of ways.
A look at Germany’s intriguing long-term care system
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Feb 25, 2020
There’s a lot we can learn from the German long-term care system.
Conversations with COVID-19 survivors
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
May 05, 2020
The more I do this work, the more apparent it is to me that mental health support is essential, regardless of whether or not there’s a global catastrophe.
Elder love
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Dec 05, 2017
I lost one of my two mothers-in-law last Monday, five weeks after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Audrey had filled a hole in my life left after the death of my beloved great-aunt many years...
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...
Diabetes care: Take two betta fish and call me in a week
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 21, 2015
These days, with organizations being penalized for rehospitalizations and closely monitored on clinical outcomes, it would probably be very worthwhile to provide a group of elders with some pet fish, food...
Dialysis: Gauging its need, and how to reduce its stress
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Mar 31, 2015
As a psychologist observing the effects of medical interventions on the mental health of the long-term care resident, I often ask, “Is this aggressive procedure helping?” As it turns out, so...
Self-care, team-care and an empty well
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jan 29, 2019
While it’s tempting for organizations to meet staffing needs with someone who always says yes, good managers recognize that such requests can push employees to the brink.
The White House Conference on Aging: Why it should matter to you
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Oct 30, 2014
If you, like me, completely missed the 2005 White House Conference on Aging (or if you weren’t in the field at the time), it’s fair to ask just what the heck it and does. And what it means...
Care model for more than just medical condition needed in long-term care
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Sep 20, 2013
Of the most efficient countries for healthcare, the United States ranks second in healthcare costs per capita but 46th in efficiency (out of the 48 countries ranked!). The move from a biomedical to a biopsychosocial...