Work Organization and Health Issues in Long-Term Care Centers

Abstract

This qualitative study explored common and divergent perceptions of caregivers and managers regarding occupational health and safety, work organization, and psychosocial concerns in long-term care centers. Both common and differing issues were identified. Both groups agreed on the importance of ergonomic concerns, the high prevalence of stress, and receptiveness to participatory health promotion programs. However, numerous work organization issues and physical and psychosocial workplace hazards were identified by certified nursing assistants but were not mentioned by managers. The results suggest that different perceptions naturally arise from people's varying positions in the occupational hierarchy and their consequent exposures to health and safety hazards. Improved systems of communication that allow frontline workers to express their concerns would make it possible to create solutions to these problems.

Workplace Participatory Occupational Health/Health Promotion Program: Facilitators and Barriers Observed in Three Nursing Homes

“…The high turnover rate in nursing homes (Donoghue, 2010) and tight staffing levels (Feuerberg, 2001) are well documented and create a vicious cycle because they contribute to work strain among employees, which in turn increases turnover (Zhang, Punnett, & Gore, 2014). Psychosocial stress had already been documented as a prevalent concern in all three of these centers (Zhang et al, 2011). …”

“…In addition, nursing homes have high employee turnover (Trinkoff et al, 2013), posing challenges for staffing levels (Shin, 2013) and resulting in poor resident outcomes and quality of life (Shin, 2013; Trinkoff et al, 2013). Nursing home employees experience high physical workloads and stressful psychosocial work environments (Lapane & Hughes, 2007; Zhang et al, 2011), leading to a range of health problems, such as musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and poor mental health (Miranda, Gore, Boyer, Nobrega, & Punnett, 2015; Punnett et al, 2009). …”

How smart homes are used to support older people: An integrative review

“…Despite the fact that most older people want to live in their own homes for as long as possible (de Bruin et al, ; Turjamaa, Hartikainen, Kangasniemi, & Pietilä, ), some dislike it because they feel that their home is a lonely and unsafe environment. Therefore, it is essential to take into account older people's rights to make decisions about their own lives (Jacobs, ; Zhang et al, ). Smart home systems can help older people, but they also pose significant ethical challenges, such as privacy, autonomy, dignity, safety and trust, and it is important to consider these issues (Sánchez, Taylor, & Bing‐Johnsson, ).…”

Assessing Organizational Readiness for a Participatory Occupational Health/Health Promotion Intervention in Skilled Nursing Facilities

“…Logistical feasibility of team meetings was considered as an essential precursor for the implementation of workplace intervention, especially because time strain had been identified previously as a challenge (Zhang et al, 2011). …”

“…Assessment of shared interest and commitment between managers and employees are important for successful implementation of a workplace intervention (Weiner, 2009). However, employees’ perceptions of occupational safety and health risks, the participatory culture, and the decision-making power may be different from those of managers (Zhang et al, 2011). Weiner (2009) suggested that a discrepancy between current and desired conditions, and an appealing vision of the future, could indicate the organization’s readiness for change in terms of the degree to which employees perceive the change as needed, important, or worthwhile.…”