More Evidence that Federal Regulations Perpetuate Unrealistic Nursing Home Social Services Staffing Ratios

“Knowing when it's time to take a break”: Nursing home social workers’ coping during COVID-19

“…In closing, the need to support NH SWs will continue, given the ongoing challenges of the pandemic and the reality that many NHs lack robust social service staffing [17] and resources to support front line staff [18] . NH SWs in this study appear to have effective strategies for coping with the stress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.…”

“…Even so, NH staff, including SWs, experienced stress and burden during the pandemic that likely contributed to increased burnout and turnover [18] . Current federal regulations require NHs to employ one full-time “qualified SW,” only if the NH has more than 120 beds; however, research underscores that this number is unrealistic and grossly inadequate [19] . A noteworthy limitation was that we only surveyed SWs employed in NHs during the pandemic.…”

A Call to Address RN, Social Work, and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses in Nursing Homes

“… 19 Despite evidence that social service staff to resident ratios are too low and despite the dire need for professionally trained and licensed social workers within NHs, little change has occurred. 45 With the implementation and regulation of licensed social workers in NHs, NHs would be equipped with staff knowledgeable and skilled in having difficult discussions, family mediation, and identification and treatment of mental health concerns. Licensed social workers are well situated to play critical and essential roles alongside APRNs and other members of the medical team to improve resident and systems of care.…”

“…To enhance NH care, it is also essential that federal guidelines recognize NH social service providers as degreed and licensed social workers and align definitions of qualified social workers with professional definitions of social work. 19 Bern-Klug and colleagues 45 provide evidence that current social service staffing ratios create barriers for effective practice and an inability for residents' psychosocial needs to be adequately addressed. The capacity of social work practice that is possible within NHs is not well understood.…”

“…Similarly, calls for change in federal guidelines for what constitutes a social worker in NHs continue 19. Despite evidence that social service staff to resident ratios are too low and despite the dire need for professionally trained and licensed social workers within NHs, little change has occurred 45. With the implementation and regulation of licensed social workers in NHs, NHs would be equipped with staff knowledgeable and skilled in having difficult discussions, family mediation, and identification and treatment of mental health concerns.…”