EP30: The Role of Social Workers in Nursing Homes

<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Role of Social Workers in Nursing Homes</span></em></p> <p><strong><em>“The social isolation caused by COVID-19 requires an expansive workforce considering not all nursing homes have trained social workers.”</em></strong><strong>— Lynn Friss Feinberg, MSW</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nursing homes and COVID-19 are today's hot topics. With mounting cases of COVID-19,  nursing homes have faced many challenges, especially with providing social services. On top of helping older adults adjust to their new life in a supportive care setting and advocating for their rights and needs, social workers are faced with ethical dilemmas, stress, and fears for resident safety. What can we do about it? </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, we are joined by Nancy Kusmaul, PhD, MSW, and Lynn Friss Feinberg, MSW, to discuss social workers' role in nursing homes.</span></p> <p><strong>Part One of ‘The Role Of Social Workers In Nursing Homes’</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Nancy Kusmaul, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor in the Baccalaureate Social Work program at UMBC. She received her PhD from the University at Buffalo School of Social Work and her MSW from the University of Michigan. Dr. Kusmaul worked in nursing homes and hospitals for more than a decade.  Her research focuses on organizational culture, trauma-informed care, and the impact of trauma experienced on the workforce. She is interested in direct care workers' experience in organizations, particularly Certified Nursing Assistants in nursing homes. She is a 2019-2020 Health and Aging Policy Fellow with Senator Ron Wyden and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. She is a member of the Baltimore County Elder Abuse Coalition and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW). She co-chairs the Aging Committee for the Maryland Chapter of NASW, and she is a fellow of the Gerontological Society of America.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lynn Friss Feinber