Nursing home social services: A systematic review of the literature from 2010 to 2020

ABSTRACT

Nursing home (NH) social workers carry out person-centered care, guided by the 1987 Nursing Home Reform Act. As the projected population of individuals requiring NH care is expected to grow and become more racially and ethnically diverse, the social worker in this setting becomes increasingly important. The aims of this study are to: (1) identify existing research that discusses the role of social work and nursing facilities, (2) synthesize findings to determine what is most often reported in the literature, and (3) present recommendations for practice, research, and policy. This study used the PICO framework and PRISMA guidelines to systematically search for articles published in English between 2010 and 2020 across 11 databases. A final sample of 23 articles discussed social work in the NH organized into three categories: (1) qualifications of the NH social worker (n = 5), (2) social worker responsibilities (n = 11), and (3) policy dictates practice (n = 7). Future research ought to include primary data collection methods with NH social workers, as well as NH residents and family, as residents must be at the center of their care. Considering policy modifications to further enhance the social work role of the interdisciplinary team is warranted.

KEYWORDS:

• Nursing home care
• social work
• older adult