Coordinating Psychologists in Residential Care Homes Pilot

Projet Pilote de Coordination des Psychologues dans les Établissements de Soins Résidentiels

The COVID-19-related health crisis has highlighted various shortcomings in the care and support of the mental health of older persons, particularly those living in residential care homes. To address these, the Walloon Agency for a Quality Life (Agence Wallonne pour une Vie de Qualité – AVIQ) has hired coordinating psychologists in seven pilot institutions. The latter are responsible for cooperating with the existing psychiatric home care services for older persons (soins psychiatriques pour personnes agées à domicile), developing a mental health network in nursing homes, raising awareness among caregivers in the field by setting up specific and thematic workshops, and working in partnership with the establishment’s coordinating physician. The primary objective is to improve the psychological monitoring of older persons living in residential care homes and to reduce mental health disorders in nursing homes (and care homes). At the same time, the AVIQ also wishes to better equip the teams and promote well-being at work.