John O’Connor’s recent post on the pain/depression cycle raised some interesting points about depression in long-term care. Reducing learned helplessness that is often seen in depression is...
A hopeful day at LeadingAge 2018
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Nov 07, 2018
I headed to the 2018 LeadingAge convention last week looking for a fix of long-term care enthusiasm and that’s exactly what I got.
Post-pandemic population may require higher staffing levels
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
May 25, 2021
Before the pandemic, residents were admitted for rehabilitation following elective surgery or a health crisis. The rehab residents either returned home or joined the group of long-term residents who had...
Super-utilizers: LTC has them too
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 05, 2016
Reducing the costs of long-term care “super-utilizers” first requires recognizing them as such. Then proceed carefully, and with an investigative eye, to increase the likelihood of successfully...
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.
Loneliness in LTC: Overcoming disability, creating connections
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 14, 2015
Reducing loneliness among facility residents has numerous benefits — for residents and staff. So why aren’t we doing better at it? Here’s what you need to know.
Creating a dialysis-friendly facility
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
May 10, 2016
There is much that can be done to improve the quality of life for dialysis patients at your facility and showcase your facility as dialysis-friendly at the same time. Unfortunately, many providers are...
Protecting residents of nursing homes from pandemics
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 14, 2020
“We can’t worry about keeping the virus out [of nursing homes], we have to figure out how to live with it.” It’s a sobering comment that rings true to me.
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.
Suicide risk in LTC: Effective protocols may not be what you think
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 08, 2013
According to researchers, 11% to 43% of LTC residents have thoughts of suicide, with higher rates in larger facilities and in those with more staff turnover. Other stressors include medical illness, the...