I spend a lot of time thinking about food every day, but with Thanksgiving feasts on our minds this week it’s a particularly good occasion to consider what and how we serve meals to residents and staff.
Self-disclosure: What your staff needs to know about revealing personal information to residents
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jan 16, 2018
Disclosing your personal information can be a good way to establish a more intimate connection with residents but there also can be unintended and unwanted consequences to revealing such details.
People in LTC who’ve inspired me in 2017
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Dec 19, 2017
From the 102-year-old Hulk Hogan fan to the doting, selfless caregivers doing behind-the-scenes work, there are numerous people who inspired me in long-term care this year.
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....
ElderTech: Ideas from a tech exhibit
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 18, 2017
I was at the nursing station the other day when some unusual cracking noises caused me to look up from my documentation. A very old, petite lady was sitting in her wheelchair popping bubble wrap. She wore...
New LTC resources from some of the best
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Dec 06, 2016
Over the past year, I’ve been involved with several exciting long-term care-related projects that I can now tell you about. In the spirit of the season, I wanted to spread some good cheer with them,...
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...
Dr. El’s subversive guide to culture change
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Feb 02, 2016
Culture change can be portrayed as many things. One possibility often overlooked is its being a grassroots effort that shifts the dynamics between residents, staff and community, one unit at a time.
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...
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...