Nearly Half of Nursing Home Workers Suffer Mental Health Problems: Study

Nursing home staffing problems are not confined to the U.S., contributing to a global mental health crisis among facility workers, researchers reveal.

Details from a new international study indicate that nursing homes staffing shortages are being exacerbated by widespread mental health issues plaguing workers in those kinds of facilities around the globe.

According to findings published in the journal Geriatric Nursing on August 2, nearly 20% of nursing home staffers develop mental health issues within five years of beginning work at a nursing home, and more than 40% suffer from anxiety.

Nursing Home Staffing Shortages

Long-term care facilities experienced serious staffing shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic, which contributed to a high number of deaths at nursing homes across the U.S. However, a report published last year concluded that nursing home staffing issues not only impacted patient care during the pandemic, but continue to be a major problem in nursing homes nationwide.

Another recent report published by the Associated Press highlighted how the current immigration crackdown is limiting access to asylum seekers, an essential labor force used for the nursing home industry, worsening the staffing shortage issue in the U.S., which continue to result in a lower quality of care for residents, according data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS).

The new findings come from a team of researchers from China and Malaysia, who analyzed 26 studies across 13 countries, focusing on the mental health of nursing home caregivers.

Led by Dr. Zhi-Ru Fan, the team examined four key mental health indicators: anxiety, depression, perceived stress and subjective well-being. Researchers said these factors interact with each other, leading to complex relationships, which cause changes to the wellness of both the staff and residents.

Researchers found that more than 20% of nursing home caregivers developed mental health issues within five years of working at a nursing home. Rates of depression were 19% among nursing home staff, but 44% of nursing home caregivers suffered from anxiety, which is much higher than the rates among nursing staff in other clinical settings.

The data indicates nursing home caregivers experience external stressors like chronic staffing shortages, excessive workloads and irregular shift patterns. They also experience internal pressures like low wages, poor working conditions and inefficient management practices.

Researchers examined caregivers across different countries with diverse economic and cultural contexts and found consistent patterns of mental health challenges despite the location.

Overall, the study indicated there are widespread mental health challenges that consistently affect nursing home caregivers and, as a result, affect the quality of care for residents.

Stress, COVID infections, low staffing and poor management can all contribute to nursing home caregiver burnout, the researchers warned. They recommend targeted interventions for nursing homes, systemwide changes and interventions at the cultural level to support caregivers who are looking after vulnerable elderly populations.