Dr. El

You and your staff are very different: Use it to your advantage

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: You and your staff are very different: Use it to your advantage I often speak with healthcare groups, giving psychological insights about a variety of issues within long-term care. Sometimes I address a C-suite audience; other times I train direct care staff. I noticed during the … Read more

Calming fears of floods and other catastrophes

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Calming fears of floods and other catastrophes By now it’s likely that you, your staff, the residents and their families have seen the incredibly disturbing photo of assisted living residents in Dickinson, TX, sitting in waist-high floodwaters. Thankfully, all the older women in the picture have … Read more

Falls: A closer look

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News:   Falls: A closer look Part of my job as a geropsychologist is to conduct reviews of falls with my patients after they occur. Through discussion with the resident, I analyze what happened and assess how they’re doing after what can be a traumatic event. Together, … Read more

The image of LTC in the arts

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: The image of LTC in the arts I was perusing The New York Times last week when I came upon an article about a play centering on my favorite topic — aging. “Singing Beach,” by playwright Tina Howe, revolves around the drama that consumes a family … Read more

ElderTech: Ideas from a tech exhibit

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: ElderTech: Ideas from a tech exhibit 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 th e same … Read more

Why (culture) change is so hard and what to do about it

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Why (culture) change is so hard and what to do about it The team huddled around the nursing station talking in panicked whispers after the management meeting ended. “How do they expect us to do that?” a young nurse wondered. “Yeah,” an aide replied, “we’re stretched … Read more

Promote your connections

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Promote your connections  One of the things that most brightens my workday is when I see long-term care residents hanging out together. In particular, I’ve noticed two ladies who attend activities in tandem wearing dresses with hats and costume jewelry, a threesome of confused residents who … Read more

The “last day” protocol

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: The “last day” protocol I waited outside the room until the rehab therapists finished talking to Jim, who’d been admitted to the nursing home the night before. I read over the basic info on his face sheet before my consult. Jim was an 87-year old widower … Read more

The violent workplace

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: The violent workplace Last week a nurse, aide and police chief were killed at an Ohio nursing home, along with the gunman, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. While it’s impossible to prevent all tragic events, especially those involving an armed assailant entering the building … Read more

Opening the door for ombudsmen

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Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News: Opening the door for ombudsmen Last week during a talk at the Pennsylvania Department of Aging 2017 Ombudsman Conference, audience members told me that they’re having difficulty speaking to administrators and other senior staff when they visit the facilities. In fact, some people reported that the … Read more