Trauma-Informed Care in Residential Long-Term Care for Older Adults

Abstract

In this episode, our guest Dr. Nancy Kusmaul defines trauma-informed care within residential long-term care, and describes regulations that will soon require skilled nursing facilities receiving federal funding to incorporate trauma-informed principles into person-centered care. Dr. Kusmaul compares and contrasts how trauma-informed care is viewed in residential long-term care settings as opposed to other social work settings, and why trauma-informed care is critical when working with older adults. The episode concludes by emphasizing social work’s role in long-term care, and how social workers can create environments that eliminate or mitigate triggers that have the potential to cause re-traumatization.