title: Psychosocial assessment of nursing home residents via MDS 3.0: recommendations for social service training, staffing, and roles in interdisciplinary care.
abstract: The Minimum Data Set 3.0 has introduced a higher set of expectations for assessment of residents' psychosocial needs, including new interviewing requirements, new measures of depression and resident choice, and new discharge screening procedures. Social service staff are primary providers of psychosocial assessment and care in nursing homes; yet, research demonstrates that many do not possess the minimum qualifications, as specified in federal regulations, to effectively provide these services given the clinical complexity of this client population. Likewise, social service caseloads generally exceed manageable levels. This article addresses the need for enhanced training and support of social service and interdisciplinary staff in long term care facilities in light of the new Minimum Data Set 3.0 assessment procedures as well as new survey and certification guidelines emphasizing quality of life. A set of recommendations will be made with regard to training, appropriate role functions within the context of interdisciplinary care, and needs for more realistic staffing ratios.
authors.affiliation: Baycrest, Kunin Lunenfeld Applied and Evaluative Research Unit, University of Toronto, Factor Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, Toronto, Canada. ksimons@klaru-baycrest.on.ca
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Simons
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bonifas
authors.forename: Priscilla D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Downes
authors.forename: Colleen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galambos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058025:Interdisciplinary Studies; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009746:Nursing, Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011584:Psychology / Q000379:methods; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D017751:Safety Management; D012947:Social Work / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States