Eleanor Barbera, Ph.D.

Dutch students live in nursing homes, keep residents company

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Here’s an interesting, thinking-outside-the-box idea: Dutch students choose to live in nursing homes rent-free (as long as they keep the residents company) NINETY-TWO-YEAR-OLD Johanna beams at the 20-year-old stepping into her room — not a visiting grandson, but rather a housemate at her retirement home. Town planning student Jurrien is one of six who have … Read more

Senior bullying: How to recognize it, how to handle it

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News:  Senior bullying: How to recognize it, how to handle it Things were different when I was a kid. People regularly drove while intoxicated. The high school archery team practiced on the football field while the track team ran around the periphery. Children bullied their peers without … Read more

Free Webinar 2/25 @ 2pm ET: Motivating LTC Staff with “Nudge” Principles

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Join Dr. El Wednesday, February 25th at 2pm Eastern Time (1pm Central Time) for a FREE Webinar on Beyond Carrot and Stick: Motivating LTC Staff with “Nudge” Principles sponsored by EmLogis To register: visit EmLogis Events   About the Webinar: Employee recognition programs reward staff members for good behavior and discipline techniques (such as suspending staff … Read more

Reflections after an LTC and senior living summit

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Reflections after an LTC and senior living summit Last week, I attended the MarcusEvans LTC and Senior Living CXO Summit in Los Angeles, where I delivered a keynote address on “Identifying and Repairing Communication Gaps in LTC.” It was a fascinating, energizing event, and not just … Read more

Addressing residents’ deepest fear

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News:  Addressing residents’ deepest fear In the TV show “Mad Men,” the Sterling Cooper advertising executives find out how consumers feel about the product they’re pitching by holding focus groups. They ask people who use their product what they like and don’t like about it, how they … Read more

6 ways to improve dealing with death in LTC

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News:  6 ways to improve dealing with death in LTC There are moments in life that engender important questions. When an individual is born, we ask, “Is it a boy or a girl?” When the person dies, we ask, “What happened?” In long-term care, we’re not around … Read more

Use ‘nudge principles’ in LTC to prompt staff in the right direction

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Use ‘nudge principles’ in LTC to prompt staff in the right direction Standing by the salad bar in the newly opened restaurant, I recoiled at the sign that read, “Please don’t use your hands.” I suggested to the manager that the notice should instead advise diners … Read more

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through LTC …

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News:  ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through LTC … ‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through long-term care, Decorations sparkled and twinkled — no wall was bare. The recreation department had concerts galore, The residents enjoyed it — they clamored for more. The maintenance … Read more