Nan was in the hallway, looking as thin and pale as I’d ever seen her. “Are you okay? Do you feel well enough to meet today?” I’d heard in morning report that she’d been diagnosed with pneumonia. “No,” she croaked, and then hesitated. “I mean, yes.” She looked at me intently. “It might be our … Read more
I didn’t want the week to go by without giving a “shout out” to our Nursing Assistants. You work so hard and your job is so important! Some thoughts and experiences on CNAs: Prior to graduate school, I worked in a residential setting for adolescent girls with behavior problems. My role was similar to that … Read more
When nursing home residents are evacuated from their facilities after any type of disaster, they typically move to another nursing home rather than to a public shelter. They therefore miss the opportunity to speak with trained first responders who can help them address their emotional reactions to the experience. Developed by psychologist Lisa M. Brown, … Read more
For information from the American Psychological Association on Elder Abuse, click on the link below: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
7 Things I Worry About in Advance of My Nursing Home Stay How I’m going to manage my lip balm addiction Being cold in those flimsy cotton house dresses Controlling my temper when staff members call me “Honey” in that high-pitched, patronizing tone The mortifying trip from room to shower half-draped in a sheet (see … Read more
I went for my annual mammogram last week, leaving work early to do so and throwing my schedule into chaos. When I arrived at the diagnostic center, the woman at the desk told me someone else would be out to talk to me. Never a good sign. The second lady took an apologetic tone. “The … Read more
I just finished reading A Bittersweet Season: Caring for Our Aging Parents — and Ourselves, by Jane Gross, founder of the New York Times’ New Old Age blog. A chronicle of her mother’s last years, the book is part love story, part cautionary tale. Jane Gross bravely shares intimate details of her family’s journey down … Read more
“I’m sorry, Rita, I can’t breathe,” I said when she paused for a moment in recounting her story. “I have to go blow my nose.” “Yes, I can hear that. It’s okay,” she said, reassuringly. In the many months I’d been seeing her, this type of interruption had never before occurred. Her movements painfully crippled … Read more
“Excuse me,” I said to the lady sitting across from the nursing station. “We’ve been saying hello for a while. I’m Dr. Barbera, the psychologist. You’re Ms. Patel, right?” “Yes, that’s right.” She looked up at me from her wheelchair and smiled. “Nice to meet you.” “You too. Listen, I wanted to ask you a … Read more
The American Health Care Association (AHCA) chose the theme of “Fulfilling the Promise” for National Nursing Home Week May 8-14, 2011. According to the AHCA planning guide, part of this Promise is a focus on the whole person. Psychologists help fulfill this Promise every day, by addressing the emotional aspects of illness in addition to … Read more