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Maintaining Positive Mental Health In Nursing Home Caregivers
Presenter: Laura-Catherine Bando
Mentor: Louise Murray (Aging Studies)
Abstract:
According to the National Center of Health Statistics (2019), approximately1.3 million older adults live in nursing homes in the US. Nursing homes, or skilled nursing facilities, provide 24/7 medical care for those who need short term rehabilitation and those for whom the nursing home is their permanent home due to their level of health needs (National Institute on Aging, 2017). With many residents residing for a decade or more in the same community, relationships form between staff and residents (Ådland et al., 2021). Consequently, feelings of extreme grief and distress may be expressed by staff when residents pass away and the repetition of loss can take a major toll on mental wellbeing, due to a lack of opportunity to step back and grieve (Ådland et al.,2021). A review of the literature exploring the impact of grief and loss, following the passing of nursing home residents, on the staff who care for them will be provided. Recommendations for practice will be made and a strategy presented that can be implemented within the long term healthcare field to support formal caregivers when coping with the loss of residents with whom they may have formed deep connections.