title: Comparing families and staff in nursing homes and assisted living: implications for social work practice.
abstract: Nursing homes and residential care/assisted living settings provide care to 2.4 million individuals. Few studies compare the experience of, and relationships between, family and staff in these settings, despite ongoing family involvement and evidence that relationships are problematic. Data from 488 families and 397 staff members in 24 settings examined family involvement and family and staff burden, depressive symptoms, and perceptions; and staff absenteeism and turnover. There were few differences across setting types. Although conflict rarely occurred, there was room for improvement in family-staff relations; this area, and preparing family for their caregiving roles, are appropriate targets for social work intervention.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work and Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. sheryl_zimmerman@unc.edu
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.forename: Lauren W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: Lisa P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Gwyther
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Washington
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cagle
authors.forename: Anna S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Beeber
authors.forename: Philip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Sloane
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D012947:Social Work; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload