Support for Nursing Home Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review

Abstract

Purpose: To review support systems for nursing home caregivers (NHCGs) that were implemented during the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Method: Database searches in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL resulted in five publications.

Results: Studies differed in design, interventions, and outcomes. An urgent eye movement desensitization and reprocessing protocol was feasible and effective among nurses in services highly mobilized during the acute phase of the pandemic. The "self-help plus" psychological intervention was not associated with significant reductions in anxiety or posttraumatic symptoms but prompted exploration of non-specific factors influencing its effectiveness. The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes in Long-Term Care of the Elderly virtual program increased confidence among NHCGs. Self-compassion training was associated with positive changes for certified nursing assistants. Weekly debriefing sessions implemented at one hospital highlighted pathogenic and salutogenic factors.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a marked psychosocial impact on NHCGs and necessitated targeted interventions. Despite their limitations, these promising studies provided insights into potential support avenues. Policy considerations should stress the pivotal role of advanced practice nurses in shaping supportive work environments. Future research should focus on robust assessments of the efficacy of psychosocial interventions for NHCGs facing ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic, and even recurrent viral epidemics. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 50(10), 24-33.].