Posted by Dr. El - November 5, 2016 - Inspiration, Personal Reflections, Savvy Guide reviews, Something Good About Nursing Homes
The theologian, Paul Tillich, once said, “The first duty of love is to listen.”
This quote came to my mind when I read the kind review of my book, “The Savvy Resident’s Guide,” by Yang of CNAEdge. It feels good to be heard. In return, I want to thank Yang and his colleagues, Alice and May, all current or former Certified Nurse Assistants, for their powerful work and writing. These courageous individuals write “from the front lines” of caring for the elderly, and I’m deeply moved by the honesty and vulnerability in their work.
In writing my book, “The Savvy Resident’s Guide,” I wanted to give new residents a road map to life in a nursing home. I developed the book through years of listening to residents — their fears, worries, happy moments, and everything in between. As staff in long-term care, we can get rushed in the demands of schedules, paperwork, and other top-down regulations.
Yet we began our careers motivated by the fact that every resident is a person first. It means a lot to me that Yang, a former Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) for over 25 years, found my book to be an encouraging reminder of this. He wrote:
“There is very little in The Savvy Resident’s Guide that could be considered new information for experienced caregivers. But in a way, for us at least, that’s the point. These issues are so woven into the fabric of our work experience that they become second nature to us and sometimes we lose sight of the fact that what might be obvious to us might not be as clear to someone else….the book helps us step into the new resident’s shoes because it reminds us of when we as caregivers were new to the system. The whirl of faces and personalities, the jargon, the strange cultural norms and customs of the facility and care unit, were all things we had to adjust to. Now, with a little imagination, we can put ourselves in the place someone who might not be feeling well to start, who perhaps has gone through a sustained period of loss and now has to adjust to this strange new world. Our empathy can begin even before the resident enters the front door.”
Every day I work with long-term care professionals who fulfill the first duty of love with their residents. Together we are bringing warmth and compassion to eldercare. I’m grateful to be in the company of the of CNAEdge and so many other thoughtful LTC workers. Thank you!
Posted by Dr. El - April 30, 2014 - Nominations/Awards, Savvy Guide reviews
I’m thrilled to announce that The Savvy Resident’s Guide is a Finalist for Best Books for Aging and Caregiving in the Senior Homes 2014 Best Senior Living Awards contest!
Your vote is needed!
Please click on the yellow badge link below and vote for The Savvy Resident’s Guide on the Senior Homes page. Thank you!
Click on the badge to get to the Senior Homes page
and vote for The Savvy Resident’s Guide!
Posted by Dr. El - April 7, 2014 - Nominations/Awards, Savvy Guide reviews
I’m pleased to announce that The Savvy Resident’s Guide has been nominated as one of the Best Books for Aging and Caregiving in the Senior Homes 2014 Best Senior Living Awards contest.
Your vote is needed!
Please click on the yellow badge link below and vote for The Savvy Resident’s Guide on the Senior Homes page. Thank you!
Click on the badge to get to the Senior Homes page and vote for The Savvy Resident’s Guide!
Posted by Dr. El - March 28, 2014 - Books/media of note, Savvy Guide reviews
4 out 5 stars A must read for anyone who thinks they may need a home in the future
This book is easy reading (larger print) with understandable language that doesn’t say you should enter a nursing facility, but what to expect if you do need one. I have shared with my coworkers at the nursing home where I work, hoping to get a few in the building for short term residents to read with their families.
Thanks, Kat Hohler!
Posted by Dr. El - January 9, 2014 - Books/media of note, Savvy Guide reviews
5 out of 5 stars Great Resource
by Doris Chun
Dr. El offers good advice and really useful information on a topic most of us want to avoid. She delivers it with a dose of hope and lots of humor. Her book makes the journey see less daunting.
Thanks, Doris Chun!
Posted by Dr. El - November 22, 2013 - Books/media of note, Savvy Guide reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A no nonsense guide
As a nursing home resident of 16 years, I have encountered most of the issues in Dr. El’s book, “The Savvy Residents Guide: Everything You Wanted To Know About Your Nursing Home Stay, But Were Afraid To Ask”.
Dr. El’s coping mechanisms and insistence on facility involvement encourages residents to make the most of their new lives.
There is no doubt about her clear understanding of the subject matter.
This book is a “no nonsense” guide to family members. It also provides alert residents with a tool to help them plan their future care.
Thanks, Kathleen Mears!
Posted by Dr. El - June 20, 2013 - Savvy Guide reviews
In the spirit of not hiding the light of The Savvy Resident’s Guide under a bushel, I’ve decided to post the Amazon reviews of the book here on the blog. As the author, I can tell you that new and long-time residents, staff, and family members have loved the tone of the book, found it very helpful and said they’ve learned a lot from reading it, but here’s a chance to hear it from the readers themselves:
Thank you Dr. El for such a great resource guide!
by Susan Samek
Whether you have been newly admitted to a nursing home (for short term rehabilitation or a long term stay) or have been in one for some time, Dr. Eleanor Feldman Barbera gives useful, straightforward suggestions to make life less stressful in a nursing home. I particularly enjoy her sense of humor and use of vignettes to illustrate her points. The “Savvy Resident’s Guide” provides vital information into the workings and understanding of how things are done in a nursing home. The book is not only an excellent resource for the resident, but for the family or anyone who needs to gain insight into life in a nursing home. …And, it is in large print!
Posted by Dr. El - April 7, 2013 - Savvy Guide reviews
I’m pleased to share this review of The Savvy Resident’s Guide by the Happy Dietitian: A foodie at heart with a passion for nutrition. Thank you, Wendy!
Don’t let the cover and title fool you, this book isn’t just for residents’ of nursing homes. The entire health care industry as well as the public would benefit from reading this book. Why?
The elderly residing in long-term care is estimated to reach 4.4 million by 2040. That means most of us will visit a relative or stay at a LTC facility in the foreseeable future. Some may be admitted for short term rehab-post knee replacement, hip replacement, injury, stroke, etc. and others move in permanently. There’s a huge stigma attached to nursing homes, which is a barrier that is stopping people from seeking help. From my experience, most nursing homes with good ratings and/or Joint Commission accreditation are actually pretty awesome.
Dr. Eleanor Feldman Barbera has over 15 years experience as a nursing home psychologist. Her blog,My Better Nursing Home is a great resource for the health industry. I had the pleasure of working with Dr. El (as we call her) back in New York and I can always count on her to offer us insight to take better care of our residents. Her in-services were always enjoyable because of her charisma and sense of humor. I thought I’d add Dr. El’s dedication page below.
The vignettes between Dr. El and the residents were my personal favorite.
