The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological service provision, mental health practitioners, and patients in long-term care settings: Results from a rapid response survey

Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in long-term care (LTC) settings and the subsequent mandatory visitor restrictions that were put in place, the provision of behavioral health services in LTC settings was impacted. To examine the pandemic's effect on the provision of psychological services in this setting and its impact on clinicians and their patients, we surveyed 126 licensed mental health clinicians working in LTC settings during the pandemic. The sample consisted of psychologists, social workers, and psychiatry mid-level practitioners from 31 states who had provided mental health care services in LTC settings during the initial 7 months after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency. This exploratory study revealed that the pandemic significantly impacted the availability and use of mental health services in LTC settings. Although there was a reported increase in the use of telehealth services compared to prepandemic frequency, it was noted that LTC residents went long periods of time without access to mental health services. Government-imposed visitor restrictions and pandemic-related restrictions were perceived as negatively impacting the emotional well-being, loneliness, and quality of life of LTC residents. Perceived factors contributing to the financial and emotional impact of COVID-19 on clinicians were explored, and it was noted that more than half of the sample reported experiencing burnout and nearly one third of surveyed clinicians believed they had experienced trauma by providing mental health services in LTC settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding this impact has implications for providing mental health services during the current and future pandemics.

Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Anxiety Symptoms in Long Term Care Residents: A multilevel Growth Curve Analysis

Objectives The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health functioning of older adults residing in long-term care (LTC) settings. This study examines the impact of the lockdown on anxiety symptoms over time in LTC residents. Design Secondary data analysis was conducted on clinical data obtained with permission from a large behavioral health company that provides behavioral health services in long-term care (LTC) and assisted living (AL) facilities. Setting and Participants Data was obtained from 1149 adults (mean age 72.37, 70% female) in in LTC and AL facilities across the United States who were receiving psychological services one year prior, and one year after, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Methods Changes in anxiety (measured using a clinician rating scale) over time before and after the pandemic were assessed using Latent Growth Curve modeling with psychiatric diagnosis, psychiatric medication and demographic factors included as covariates. Results Anxiety severity decreased over time before and after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While pandemic level factors such as facility closure and telehealth availability did not affect anxiety over time, individual treatment factors such as OCD diagnosis, initial anxiety severity, bipolar disorder diagnosis, and prescriptions for anxiolytic and antipsychotic medications affected the trajectory of anxiety during the pandemic. Conclusions and Implications These results demonstrate that individual covariates such as diagnosis, symptom severity and medication use impacted the trajectory of anxiety symptoms before and during the COVID-19 pandemic more strongly than pandemic related circumstances (facility closure, telehealth availability). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may be better observed through treatment-relevant variables, rather than pure symptom severity. In preparation for future pandemics or other large-scale disasters potentially impacting service delivery, facilities should continue to prioritize continuity of care or a timely resumption of services attending to individual treatment factors.

Health inequities and social determinants of health in refugee and immigrant communities.

This article evaluates and elucidates the intersections across social and economic determinants of health and social structures that maintain current inequities and structural violence with a focus on the impact on imMigrants (immigrants and migrants), refugees, and those who remain invisible (e.g., people without immigration status who reside in the United States) from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities. Psychology has a history of treating individuals and families without adequately considering how trauma is cyclically and generationally maintained by structural violence, inequitable resources, and access to services. The field has not fully developed collaboration within an interdisciplinary framework or learning from best practices through international/global partnerships. Psychology has also been inattentive to the impact of structural violence prominent in impoverished communities. This structural harm has taken the form of the criminalization of imMigrants and refugees through detention, incarceration, and asylum citizenship processes. Most recently, the simultaneous occurrence of multiple catastrophic events, such as COVID-19, political polarization and unrest, police violence, and acceleration of climate change, has created a hypercomplex emergency for marginalized and vulnerable groups. We advance a framework that psychologists can use to inform, guide, and integrate their work. The foundation of this framework is select United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to address health inequities. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on psychological service provision, mental health practitioners, and patients in long-term care settings: Results from a rapid response survey

Public Significance Statement The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the provision of mental health services in long-term care (LTC) settings, resulting in negative impacts not only for LTC residents who had previously been receiving mental health services but also the clinicians providing the services. This study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health providers' ability to provide mental health services in LTC settings, patient functioning, and providers' personal well-being and professional functioning. The authors hope that information within this article will assist in elucidating critical insights that can serve as a guide for policymakers, administrators, employers, and mental health clinicians regarding the provision of mental health services to residents in LTC settings during future pandemics. Due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 in long-term care (LTC) settings and the subsequent mandatory visitor restrictions that were put in place, the provision of behavioral health services in LTC settings was impacted. To examine the pandemic's effect on the provision of psychological services in this setting and its impact on clinicians and their patients, we surveyed 126 licensed mental health clinicians working in LTC settings during the pandemic. The sample consisted of psychologists, social workers, and psychiatry mid-level practitioners from 31 states who had provided mental health care services in LTC settings during the initial 7 months after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a national emergency. This exploratory study revealed that the pandemic significantly impacted the availability and use of mental health services in LTC settings. Although there was a reported increase in the use of telehealth services compared to prepandemic frequency, it was noted that LTC residents went long periods of time without access to mental health services. Government-imposed visitor restrictions and pandemic-related restrictions were perceived as negatively impacting the emotional well-being, loneliness, and quality of life of LTC residents. Perceived factors contributing to the financial and emotional impact of COVID-19 on clinicians were explored, and it was noted that more than half of the sample reported experiencing burnout and nearly one third of surveyed clinicians believed they had experienced trauma by providing mental health services in LTC settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding this impact has implications for providing mental health services during the current and future pandemics.

Age‐friendly Universities (AFU): Combating and inoculating against ageism in a pandemic and beyond

Manifestations of ageism during the recent COVID‐19 pandemic call for ways to combat persistent negative views of older adults and the disparities they fuel, especially in light of the aging of populations. We discuss the pioneering Age‐Friendly University (AFU) initiative that takes a systems‐level approach and offers guiding principles for advancing age inclusivity, which in turn can combat and inoculate individuals against ageism. In particular, the principles advocate that older adults be enabled to participate in core educational activities in higher education for personal and professional development and that institutions extend aging education, research on aging, and intergenerational exchange. The need for educational institutions to be more age‐friendly has become even more clear and pressing during the pandemic, where ageism has been exacerbated. Drawing on empirical evidence, we show how AFU principles can be applied to disrupt the roots of ageism and age biases, and disparities in healthcare and work environments. Connections between the AFU initiative and the Age‐Friendly Communities, Age‐Friendly Health Systems, and Age‐Friendly Employers initiatives are suggested as a collective move toward a more age‐inclusive ecosystem that fosters the well‐being of all people as they age. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Social Issues is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Addressing isolation, loneliness and mental health during COVID: A university training partnership with senior living communities.

Older adults living in congregate housing have been uniquely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The sudden interruption of routine activities, social isolation, and support adversely affected the wellbeing of residents in retirement facilities around the country and world. The stress of social isolation was fueled by the interruption of routine activities and support that in turn, adversely affected the wellbeing, mood, and cognition of many residents. Therefore, university clinical programs in psychology and counseling can address the needs of community older residents by preparing student clinicians to work with the aging population and to engage in telehealth models of outreach and interventions. This manuscript outlines a model of partnership between long-term care assisted living organizations and clinical training programs at a west coast university to meet community and educational needs of older residents.

Comprehensive Review of Chest Tube Management: A Review.

IMPORTANCE: Thoracostomy, or chest tube placement, is used in a variety of clinical indications and can be lifesaving in certain circumstances. There have been developments and modifications to thoracostomy tubes, or chest tubes, over time, but they continue to be a staple in the thoracic surgeon's toolbox as well as adjacent specialties in medicine. This review will provide the nonexpert clinician a comprehensive understanding of the types of chest tubes, indications for their effective use, and key management details for ideal patient outcomes. OBSERVATIONS: This review describes the types of chest tubes, indications for use, techniques for placement, common anatomical landmarks that are encountered with placement and management, and an overview of complications that may arise with tube thoracostomy. In addition, the future direction of chest tubes is explored, as well as the management of chest tubes during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Chest tube management is subjective, but the compilation of data can inform best practices and safe application to successfully manage the pleural space and ameliorate acquired pleural space disease.

COVID-19 Guidance for Triage of Operations for Thoracic Malignancies: A Consensus Statement From Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network.

The extraordinary demands of managing the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the world's ability to care for patients with thoracic malignancies. As a hospital's COVID-19 population increases and hospital resources are depleted, the ability to provide surgical care is progressively restricted, forcing surgeons to prioritize among their cancer populations. Representatives from multiple cancer, surgical, and research organizations have come together to provide a guide for triaging patients with thoracic malignancies as the impact of COVID-19 evolves as each hospital.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on community-dwelling caregivers and persons with dementia.

Restrictions related to the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pose unique and significant challenges for community-dwelling caregivers and people with dementia, including disrupted routines, a lack of structure, decreased access to respite care, and new or worsening safety issues related to interpersonal violence and hygiene. In addition to identifying issues confronting caregivers, the authors also describe possible ways to address some of these pressing concerns. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

A culturally specific mental health and spirituality approach for African Americans facing the COVID-19 pandemic.

A series of 15-min videos were produced to provide resources to pastors in African-American communities to aid them in conveying accurate public and mental health information about COVID-19. Video presenters included trusted experts in public and mental health and pastors with considerable experience responding to the needs of the African-American community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four culturally specific core themes to consider when providing care to African Americans who are at increased risk during the pandemic were identified: ritual disruption, negative reactions for not following public health guidelines, trauma, and culture and trust. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

COVID-19 guidance for triage of operations for thoracic malignancies: A consensus statement from Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network.

The extraordinary demands of managing the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the world's ability to care for patients with thoracic malignancies. As a hospital's COVID-19 population increases and hospital resources are depleted, the ability to provide surgical care is progressively restricted, forcing surgeons to prioritize among their cancer populations. Representatives from multiple cancer, surgical, and research organizations have come together to provide a guide for triaging patients with thoracic malignancies as the impact of COVID-19 evolves as each hospital.