This book focuses on the characteristics, roles, and training needs of social service delivery providers in leadership roles in U.S. skilled nursing facilities. The chapters in this volume explore a range of issues salient to nursing home social workers and social work practices such as realistic staffing ratios, qualification levels, dementia training needs, involvement in care transitions and admissions and barriers to psychosocial care. The book also addresses the Social Service Directors’ involvement in and preparation for disaster care planning, suicide risk management, and serious mental illness.

This edited collection will greatly benefit students, academics and researchers in nursing, psychology, health and social work. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of Journal of Gerontological Social Work.