COVID-19 Highlights the Need for Trained Social Workers in Nursing Homes

May 25, 2020
JAMDA

A nursing home social worker knew it was going to be a challenging day when she arrived at work to find an ambulance at the front door and a hearse at the back. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had struck. This spring's pandemic has forced a new psychosocial playbook in nursing homes across the country as fears run high, emotions run hot, and distress runs rampant. Social workers are trained to run toward the emotional chaos, offering their skills to support people's own coping process. Good psychosocial care, even in the midst of a pandemic, can help people identify and build on their natural resilience.