AMDA Behavioral & Mental Health Council: "Healing Together" Post-Covid Survey 2021

Dear AMDA Colleagues,

The past year battling Covid-19 has been one of the most personally and professionally challenging years of our lives. As we slowly move into the next phase of our post-pandemic transition, it is important to recognize that recovery involves physical restoration, as well as strategies and resources to build resilience and enhanced self care for the “New Normal”.

With this in mind, the AMDA Behavioral Health and Mental Health Council is working on resources and processes that will help facilitate healing and recovery as part of our “Healing Together” campaign. In order to do so, we wish to gain a better understanding of what is most needed to provide the best possible support for you and your staff.

We would appreciate your assistance in responding to the following brief survey, which should take no longer than five minutes.

Thank you for your time and participation!

Best regards,

The AMDA Behavioral & Mental Health Council

Question Title

* 1. Professional Role

Physician

Nurse Practitioner

Physician Assistant

Nursing Home Administrator

Director of Nursing

Consultant Pharmacist

Registered Nurse

Social Worker

Mental Health Provider

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 2. In what types of LTC facilities do you provide care? (Please check all that apply)

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)

Assisted Living Facility (ALF)

Skilled Nursing facility (SNF)

Outpatient office-based practice only

I am involved with long term care but am not affiliated with a LTC facility

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. In which state do you work?

Question Title

* 4. What is the approximate total number of beds for which you provide care?

1-25

26-100

101-250

251-1,000

N/A

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. What have been the most challenging aspects of Covid-19 for your staff over the past year? (Please check all that apply)

Emotional aspects of caring for patients during a pandemic

Maintaining work-life balance

Dealing with work volume

Use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

Maintaining good infection control procedures

Physical exhaustion

Mental exhaustion

Staff turnover/insufficient workforce

Addressing the concerns and needs of patient families

Serving as "pseudo-family members" to patients during visitor restriction

The impact of isolation on patients

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 6. What have been the most difficult challenges for you as a professional during the pandemic? (Please check all that apply)

Maintaining standards of care and infection control

Physical exhaustion

Mental exhaustion

Lack of supplies and sufficient PPE

Maintaining sufficient staffing

Ability to maintain a satisfactory work-life balance

Challenges regarding administrative and staff-related issues

Addressing the concerns of patient families

Lack of consistent state and federal regulations re standards of care

Concerns regarding the possibility of contaminating my family

Compassion fatigue

Maintaining composure and a professional demeanor at times when feeling overwhelmed

Vaccine hesitancy by LTC staff

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 7. What resources or activities were most helpful to you over the past year in coping with the totality of the pandemic's impact? (Please check all that apply)

Exercise

Hobbies

Enjoying a pet

Creating boundaries - saying "no" when necessary

Spending time with my family

Limiting exposure to media

Support from colleagues

Prayer/religious expression

Mindfulness practices (ex: yoga, meditation, guided imagery)

Reading for pleasure

Listening to music or podcasts

Watching TV, You Tube, etc.

Engaging with nature

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 8. What resources/activities from AMDA's "Healing Together" campaign would be most helpful to you now? (Please check all that apply)

An opportunity to share experiences with AMDA colleagues in small, virtual, facilitated groups

A written "Resource Guide" and educational materials for my staff

A "Facilitator's Guide" that will assist me in creating a Town Hall or discussion groups with my staff

Digital library of audiovisual resources (Podcasts, You Tube videos, web sites, etc.)

Guidelines for addressing "The New Normal" of LTC with staff, patients and patient families

Opportunity for 1:1 conversations with trusted AMDA colleagues

Suggestions for wellness and resilience building activities

Webinars on the topics of burnout, coping, resilience and self-care

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 9. What additional ideas and/or resources would you suggest to advance AMDA's "Healing Together" campaign?

Question Title

* 10. Please feel free to share any additional comments and indicate if we may quote you by name.

Question Title

* 11. AMDA's "Healing Together" campaign will be most effective through the support and advocacy of our members. If interested in becoming a "Healing Together" champion and advocate, please feel free to share your name and contact information. This will require very little time and no financial contributions. Thank you!

Name

Best contact number