title: Serious mental illness in Florida nursing homes: need for training.
abstract: This study examined how the mental health needs of nursing home (NH) residents with serious mental illness (SMI) are addressed. Data were collected from three sources: interviews with 84 SMI stakeholders; surveys of 206 NH staff members; and focus groups at two psychiatry specialty NHs. Four common themes emerged: placement of older adults with SMI was a significant problem for discharge planners and NH admission coordinators; NH staff reported being uneasy with SMI residents and were concerned over aggressive behavior; staff in NHs with psychiatry specialty units appeared more comfortable serving SMI residents; and SMI training was a consistent recommendation of all SMI stakeholders and NH staff. Implications for training are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., MHC 1400, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. vmolinari@fmhi.usf.edu
authors.forename: Victor A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Stacy S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Merritt
authors.forename: Whitney L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Chiriboga
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conboy
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hyer
authors.forename: Marion A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005431:Florida; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration