Reflections from the Forgotten Front Line: A qualitative study of factors affecting wellbeing among long-term care workers in New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic

While long-term care (LTC)1 facilities serving older adults have long struggled with low employee morale and high rates of staff turnover, the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to these facilities and the frontline staff working in them. This study aimed to explore factors that influenced the personal and professional wellbeing of care providers working in LTC facilities across New York City (NYC) during the pan-demic. Fourteen semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with frontline care providers work -ing in LTC facilities across NYC. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and systematically coded according to both pre-existing and emergent topics. Four main themes emerged from the data: the toll of the virus; home and work-life balance stressors; workplace stressors; and participants' recommendations for facility leadership. Findings from this study may inform strategies for supporting the wellbeing of frontline care providers in LTC environments, especially during future public health emergencies. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study explored the impact of COVID-19 on frontline care providers in LTC facilities in NYC, identifying factors such as the toll of the virus, work-life balance stressors, workplace stressors, and recommendations for facility leadership. Findings may inform strategies for supporting the wellbeing of frontline care providers in LTC environments, especially during future public health emergencies.