Psychotherapy in Nursing Homes
You’ve worked from home for over a year and you’ve become accustomed to attending meetings in your pajamas, sending emails from your couch, and adjusting to flexible work hours outside the office. However, that’s all about to change after you see in your inbox that your department will be required to transition from remote to in-person working conditions. This causes your anxiety to spike through the roof. If this sounds strangely accurate, you’re not alone.
Many employees are mentally struggling with reintegrating back into the workplace let alone feeling confident to actively progress in their career. Whether it’s stress in response to Covid-19, shifting schedules, traveling for work, or interacting with coworkers, It’s important to look at this issue from both an employee and employer perspective in reducing the anxiety around this transition.
As an employee make sure that you communicate your needs and concerns regarding returning to the office, because you are the most effective when your attention is oriented on your work and not preoccupied by outside anxiety. Stand firm in setting boundaries about Covid-19 protocols and your comfort levels with your employer or human resource representative. Additionally, be empathetic to the anxiety that coworkers or employers may be experiencing throughout this time of transition.
If you are an administrator or leader in your organization don’t worry if you don’t have all the answers just yet as there’s no handbook to maintaining a flawless business plan throughout a global pandemic. However, there are things you can do to make this transitions more seamless for you and your subordinates. It’s essential to create a healthy safety climate in your workplace by genuinely listening to your employees' concerns and creating new protocols to help them feel more comfortable. Consider implementing weekly reflection meetings that gauge employee’s mental health in relation to their work proficiency. Providing opportunities for flexible work hours is also a great way to be accommodating for your employees during this difficult time.
Combating Isolation & Loneliness
Psychotherapy in nursing homes often focuses on feelings of being disconnected from family or the world beyond the walls of a skilled nursing facility. Well-trained psychologists are adept at creating a safe space in which people can process these emotions and develop coping mechanisms to foster a sense of connection and belonging.
Adjusting to a New Environment
Moving to a nursing home is a significant life change. Mental and emotional muscles will likely be taxed in ways they haven’t been before. Psychotherapy can be a useful forum to take stock of one’s inner life. From there, therapists can help residents adapt to their new environment, explore new relationships, and work toward a positive understanding of their new life situation.
Maintaining Cognitive Function
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy modality that often finds success. CBT is about examining thought patterns, identifying unhelpful ones, and working to re-route our responses to the world. CBT can stimulate mental engagement, potentially slowing cognitive decline and helping residents maintain a sense of autonomy.
Managing Stress Due to Illness
Many residents of SKF/nursing homes live with chronic illness of one kind or another. Such chronic conditions can leave people feeling overwhelmed by irritation and pain, uncertainty and dependency. Psychotherapy provides tools to re-frame one’s reaction to the realities of long-term illness, resulting in less stress and an overall improvement in quality of life.
Fostering Relationships & Communication
Family dynamics can shift dramatically when a loved one enters a nursing home. Psychotherapy can facilitate better communication, helping residents and their families navigate these changes with empathy and understanding.
Our psychologists aim to be neutral sounding boards for the concerns and feelings of both nursing home residents and family members. By encouraging everyone to share their perspective, psychologists make all parties feel heard and then begin the process of bringing challenges and opportunities to light to help foster more positive relationship and communication dynamics.
Pacific Coast Psychology Provides Psychotherapy in Nursing Homes
Psychotherapy can be a game-changer for residents in nursing homes. Life in a nursing home comes with a mix of adjustments—some welcome, others less so. Psychotherapy provides a space to navigate these changes with compassion and care.
At Pacific Coast Psychology, we have partnered with dozens of skilled nursing facilities across California, offering effective mental health solutions that address the complex needs of both residents and staff.
Interested in learning more? Reach out for a consultation today, and let us help your facility thrive.