I know being cynical is bad for me. I’m sure it’s even worse for my health than all the arsenic in my rice. It’s probably killing me slowly and softly, as its tentacles snake into my...
Helping the holiday blues
Dec 27, 2013
December is a festive time of the year for most Americans. Holiday parties are in full swing and families unite for food, presents and companionship. Unfortunately, not everyone is in a celebratory mood...
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...
Battling depression: Advice on how to make seniors feel valued by others
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Apr 17, 2014
Senior living providers can design programs that increase the opportunities for residents to be valued within their communities and in the outside world. They have nothing to lose but high depression rates....
Measurement to generate success
By
Valerie Palmieri
Mar 25, 2015
To ensure maximum efficiency, the “triple aim” measurement approach will deliver the highest quality of care by improving the patient experience with care delivery, the quality of care and...
Tapping the power of therapeutic music in long-term care
By
Carol Orsborn, Ph.D.
Apr 22, 2013
You know the music you love personally, and how listening to a certain song makes you feel. But how can you tap the power of music to simultaneously enhance the lives of the many people in your and your...
Therapy patients need, and deserve, this simple self-image booster
By
Shelly Mesure, MS, OTR/L
Jan 14, 2014
Have you ever had a day when you looked great but felt depressed? Or you looked your worst but felt great? Perception of self-image is stronger than actual self-image with determining our emotions. Would...
‘Alive Inside’ a viral video
By
Mary Gustafson
Apr 19, 2012
Last week, a funny thing happened: For once, I was not the first person I know to post a nursing home-related story to my Facebook page.
Reducing learned helplessness in LTC
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 11, 2013
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...
Look on the bright side to fight depression
By
Jacqueline Vance, RNC, CDONA/LTC
Aug 20, 2013
I was recently reading an article about depression and what one can do to help themselves. It said that how you became depressed is important, but more importantly, you can learn how to do various things...