The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Psychiatric Rehabilitation in Residential Facilities: Perspectives of Staff and Residents

Abstract

The coronavirus pandemic imposed significant changes in the care of patients in psychiatric residential facilities, especially during lockdown periods. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the pandemic on patients and staff of psychiatric residential facilities (RFs). This cross-sectional survey was conducted between 30 June and 30 July 2021 and involved 31 RFs located in the province of Verona (Italy). In total, 170 staff members and 272 residents participated in this study. Staff showing clinically significant symptoms of anxiety, depression and burnout were, respectively, 7.7%, 14.2% and 6%. Staff were concerned about the risk that COVID-19 infection might spread among residents (67.6%) and that residents could not receive an acceptable service due to service reconfiguration because of the pandemic (50.3%). Residents found it very unpleasant not to be permitted to attend family members (85.3%), and not to be allowed to engage in outdoor activities due to the restrictions (84%). Both staff and residents agree that the main problematic areas for the residents was the interdiction to meet family members or friends and the interdiction to outdoor activities, whereas problems related to the COVID-19 infection were considered by the staff members as more frequently problematic than reported by residents. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the rehabilitation care and recovery journeys of the residents of psychiatric RFs. Therefore, sustained, and careful attention is needed to ensure that the rehabilitation needs of people with severe mental disorders are not neglected in time of pandemics.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40737-023-00343-6.

Keywords: Coronavirus; Healthcare workers; Mental disorder; Psychiatric residential facilities; Serious mental illness.

Fig. 1

Comparison of staff’s perspectives of the problems of the residents and the problems reported by residents on the most three challenging areas (percentages of subjects reporting challenges/problems in the three considered areas are given). § For staff, the item considered was “Lack of access to usual support networks of family and friends” (responses "Extremely relevant”, “Very relevant” and “Moderately relevant” were summed). For residents, the item considered was “How did you consider not being allowed to join family gatherings/ family celebrations or outdoor activities organised by friends and /or family?” (response “Unpleasant”). ° For staff the item considered was “Lack of usual work and outdoor activities” (responses "Extremely relevant”. “Very relevant” and “Moderately relevant” were summed). For residents the item considered was “How did you consider not being allowed to engage in outdoor activities?” (response “Unpleasant”). * For staff the item considered was “Worries about getting COVID-19 infection” (responses "Extremely relevant”. “Very relevant” and “Moderately relevant” were summed). For residents the item considered was “How did you consider adopting preventive measures within the facility, such as wear facial mask, use hand sanitiser gel, undergo triage procedures?” (response “Unpleasant”)