What is Old is New Again: Global Issues Influencing Workers and Their Work in Long-Term Care

Nurses’ work, work psychology, and the evolution & devolution of care provision in nursing homes: A scoping review

“…While these changes have occurred at difference paces in different jurisdictions that operate according to different long-term care policies, they have ultimately manifested very similarly. The direct care in this sector associated with activities of daily living is now performed predominantly by health care aides ( Berta et al., 2022 ), with nursing staff increasingly relied upon for the supervision and surveillance of health care aides and allied health professionals ( Dellefield et al., 2015 ; Siegel et al., 2010 ). And, as noted by a number of researchers, the scope of nurses’ roles has not so much shifted as expanded, where nurses now face dual work demands comprising both medical and administrative responsibilities ( Prentice and Black 2007 ).…”

Abuse in Canadian long-term care homes: a mixed methods study

“…The literature demonstrates that leaders set the organisational climate, shape organisational culture through their behaviours and actions Open and impact staff and resident satisfaction and organisational outcomes. [45][46][47] Studies have found leaders in LTC settings must encourage consistent, clear and continuous messaging and communication at all levels. 46 48 In addition, they must establish and maintain 'the culture of practice, especially as it relates to quality and safety of care, as… prior qualification, training or skills development may not be assumed'.…”

Employee Experiences Providing Nutritional Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Relationship-centered care is widely recognized as the appropriate standard of care in LTC settings, and it has been recognized for several decades that 'quality of care and quality of life' are inseparable in LTC (Chaudhury et al, 2017;Law et al, 2017;Terkelsen et al, 2020;Zimmerman et al, 2014, p. S2). Yet some of the well-known, consistently reported challenges of implementing individualized, resident-focused care in LTC include insufficient staffing levels with high turnover rates, chronic underfunding and an overall lack of resources, outdated infrastructure that promotes assembly line work, and traditional organizational structures that are inconducive to implementing change (Berta et al, 2022;Zimmerman et al, 2014). This study provides evidence that the COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated to an inexcusable extent the difficulties that staff face in providing relationshipcentered nutritional care in LTC during periods that require higher attention to infection control, underscoring the need for systemic changes in LTC.…”

“…Engaging employees directly involved in food service operations and mealtime supports when making decisions which affect their work and ability to provide relationship-centered care is key to ameliorating work conditions for LTC staff, supporting their optimal performance, and meeting the collective goal of nourishing residents' care needs. Particularly during periods of outbreak, when decisions regarding the essentiality and boundaries of employees' roles have implications on staff mix and ratios, work environment, and quality of care, encouraging employee participation as well as employee-leadership collaboration is critical for prioritizing goals of care and developing strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of employee burnout and resource scarcity (Berta et al, 2022;Vellani et al, 2022).…”