Multilevel Factors Related to Psychosocial Care Outcomes in Washington State Skilled Nursing Facilities

Bonifas, Robin P.

doi:10.1080/01634372.2010.538817

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Social Services Staffing Ratio and Resident Psychosocial Well-Being Bonifas (2003) reports that in Washington state, higher caseloads among nursing home social services workers were associated with negative psychosocial outcomes (more severe and more widespread). Nurse and nurse aide staffing ratios have been studied over the past 20 years and the results document the physical consequences for residents when too few nurses care for too many residents (Wells, 2004;Abt Associates Inc., 2006;Rantz et al, 2004;Castle & Engberg, 2007;Bostick, Rantz, Flesner, & Riggs, 2006;.…”

Section: The Nursing Home's Responsibility Regarding Resident Psychosmentioning

confidence: 98%

Nursing Home Social Services Directors' Opinions About the Number of Residents They Can Serve

Bern‐Klug

Kramer

Sharr

et al. 2009

Journal of Aging & Social Policy

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An appropriate number of qualified staff is a key factor contributing to quality of care and quality of life for nursing home residents. While much of the literature focuses on the importance of adequate nursing ratios, this descriptive study is the first to focus on the social services staff ratio. Nationally representative survey results from over 1,000 nursing home social services directors reveal that the mean number of residents per full-time equivalent social worker in the United States is 89.3 and the median is 79 residents (note that this figure includes both long-term and subacute residents). Furthermore, although the federal government requires nursing homes with more than 120 beds to employ 1 full-time qualified social worker to meet resident psychosocial needs, when asked their opinion, the majority of respondents indicated that 1 full-time social worker could handle 60 or fewer long-term care residents or 20 or fewer subacute care residents. Nursing home characteristics helped to explain the variation in social services directors' opinions. These findings suggest that the federal policy related to social services staffing should be revisited. Policy makers would benefit from reliable and current data regarding social service staffing. Research is needed to understand the relationship between social services staffing and resident outcomes.

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Section: The Nursing Home's Responsibility Regarding Resident Psychosmentioning

confidence: 98%

Nursing Home Social Services Directors' Opinions About the Number of Residents They Can Serve

Bern‐Klug

Kramer

Sharr

et al. 2009

Journal of Aging & Social Policy

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“…Psychosocial care in nursing homes assesses and addresses social and emotional needs related to loss and change, mental illnesses, and end of life (Bonifas, 2011;Roberts et al, 2021).…”

Section: Overview Of Nursing Home Social Work Practice Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While quality psychosocial care involves all departments and disciplines, the identification of psychosocial care needs and the coordination of such care are often the distinct purview of social services (Bern-Klug & Kramer, 2013;Bonifas, 2011;Roberts et al, 2021). Social workers are leaders in assessment and care planning, and working with families.…”

Section: Overview Of Nursing Home Social Work Practice Areasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Workers Critical to Honoring Commitments to Residents and Families in Long-Term Care

Kusmaul

Roberts

Hector³

et al. 2023

Journal of Gerontological Social Work

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Social workers have been at the forefront of research and advocacy to improve nursing home care for several decades. However, United States (U.S.) regulations have not kept pace with professional standards, as nursing home social services workers are still not required to have a degree in social work and many are assigned caseloads that are untenable for providing quality psychosocial and behavioral health care. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)'s recently published interdisciplinary consensus report,The National Imperative to Improve Nursing Home Quality: Honoring our Commitment to Residents, Families, and Staff (NASEM, 2022) makes recommendations for changing these regulations, reflecting years of social work scholarship and policy advocacy. In this commentary, we highlight the NASEM report recommendations for social work and chart a course for continuing scholarship and policy advocacy to improve resident outcomes.

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“…Previous research has documented the relationship between social services staffing and deficiencies in psychosocial services, with facilities employing more qualified social service and mental health staff receiving fewer deficiency citations (Zhang, Gammonley, Paek, & Frahm, 2008, 2009Simons, 2006). Additionally, better psychosocial care outcomes have been found among NHs with more experienced social services staff (Bonifas, 2007). Recognizing the key role of social workers as having expertise in psychosocial assessment and facilitation skills, we hypothesized that the number of social work staff would be related to improved assessment and care planning processes in NHs and would be more likely to be compliant with the federal regulations cited.…”

mentioning

confidence: 90%

The Social Worker in Interdisciplinary Care Planning

Vongxaiburana

Thomas

Frahm

et al. 2011

Clinical Gerontologist

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Nursing home social work services are integral to resident interdisciplinary care planning and treatments to meet residents' psychosocial needs. Data from the Online Survey Certification and Reporting database examine the relationship among numbers of qualified social workers, social service staff, and deficiency citation scores for resident assessment violations in 16,511 United States nursing homes in 2007. Using a generalized estimating equation, we show a relationship between numbers of qualified social workers, social service staff, and facilities' resident assessment-related deficiency scores. Having more qualified social workers and more social service staff is related to lower assessment deficiency scores supporting the important role of social workers and social services in nursing homes. Implications for evidence-based practice and policy are discussed.KEYWORDS deficiency citation score, nursing home, quality of care, resident assessment, social work staff As members of the clinical team in nursing homes (NHs), social work staff (qualified social workers and social service staff) play a vital role in the development and functioning of NH care plans. Social work is a profession that aims to assist people in resolving issues and in successfully coping with problems in their everyday lives. Social workers also identify and connect people with needed services and advocate for people who may not be able to do so for themselves. Social workers are often the staff in NHs who deal

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Multilevel Factors Related to Psychosocial Care Outcomes in Washington State Skilled Nursing Facilities

Cited by 12 publications

References 35 publications

Nursing Home Social Services Directors' Opinions About the Number of Residents They Can Serve

Nursing Home Social Services Directors' Opinions About the Number of Residents They Can Serve

Social Workers Critical to Honoring Commitments to Residents and Families in Long-Term Care

The Social Worker in Interdisciplinary Care Planning

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