Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mental Health Training in Nursing Homes

Abstract

This program evaluation assessed the effectiveness of a behavioral health training program for nursing home staff, aligning with federal guidelines to enhance care quality. The evaluation examined the program’s impact on staff knowledge, confidence, and preparedness in recognizing and managing behavioral health challenges among residents. The training was designed to enhance staff competencies in recognizing and managing common mental health disorders, fostering therapeutic relationships, and implementing self-care strategies to support high-quality resident care. The increasing prevalence of severe mental illness among nursing home residents requires specialized training for caregivers (Gerlach & Maust, 2022). Managing nursing home residents with mental health challenges contributed to staff stress, burnout, and decreased care quality (Harper et al., 2019). Federal regulations, including F-tags, mandate staff training in recognizing and managing mental health disorders. This training incorporated evidence-based approaches, including nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions, to support a person-centered care model while addressing stakeholder concerns (Elizaitis, 2020). A video-based training program, aligned with F-tag 838 Facility Assessment standards, was implemented at two nursing homes in Oahu, Hawaii. It consisted of five 20-minute videos covering mental health fundamentals, specific conditions, and therapeutic strategies—a quantitative pre- and post-evaluation design measured changes in staff knowledge and attitudes. The training involved 316 staff members, with 149 completing pre-evaluations (47%) and 96 completing post-evaluations (30%). Favorable ratings increased from 57% pre-training to 80% post-training (p < 0.05), with 85% of post-survey respondents expressing a strong intent to apply the knowledge received in the training to their practice. These findings underscore the effectiveness of structured behavioral health training in enhancing nursing home staff competencies and preparedness in managing residents' behavioral health needs.