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.
Growing Good
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jan 05, 2016
In the wee hours of the night I recently discovered a Facebook post about a company founded by two brothers called Life is Good. It emerged from the standing request the founders’ mother had for...
‘Honest’ placebos help without side-effects, expense
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jan 19, 2016
Placebos could be a better friend than you realize in the universal quest to reduce the number of medications that elderly patients receive. Don’t believe me? Read on. (It won’t hurt.)
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...
Wisdom from elders
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Aug 16, 2016
I told residents that I was writing an article on advice from elders about how to live life and their responses were immediate and enthusiastic, as if they’d been waiting for someone to ask.
5 ways to reduce late-pandemic staff burnout
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
May 11, 2021
Most residents and workers are vaccinated and COVID-19 rates in nursing homes have plummeted, so everything should be great, right? According to a recent article in StatNews, not quite. In “As the Covid-19...
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.
Enhancing resident independence
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jul 02, 2019
As we celebrate our freedoms in the country this week, perhaps we can consider ways in which to create a better balance between the need to provide a safe environment for residents and their right to make...
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....
Stuff I won’t do for residents and why your staff shouldn’t either: preventing burnout in...
By
Eleanor Feldman Barbera, Ph.D.
Jan 09, 2014
In my last post, I wrote about some of the many things I do for residents as a long-term care psychologist. The astute reader will note that most of the tasks were accomplished during work hours and within...