About This Toolkit

Hands holding up gears that fit together

The Trauma-Informed Care Toolkit aims to support nursing homes in their efforts to promote well-being and resilience among residents and the workforce. This toolkit has been developed thanks to the contributions of many people and organizations, with the goal of helping nursing facility administrators and their teams as they journey toward providing person-centered, trauma-informed care.

Approach

A goal in developing the Trauma-Informed Care Toolkit was to accurately and authentically represent the needs and concerns of nursing home communities. To achieve this, our team conducted interviews and surveys with nursing home staff from around the country and engaged with hundreds of staff members in order to tap into their knowledge and expertise.

Project Partners

The Trauma-Informed Care Toolkit was developed in collaboration with our partners, who have provided invaluable support and insights:

VCU Gerontology

VCU's Department of Gerontology is an acknowledged leader in trauma-informed care and ageism research and education. The department is well-known for the quality and innovation of its programs and for the scholarship and applied expertise of its faculty. The VCU Department of Gerontology offers a variety of degree programs based on an interdisciplinary approach using the bio-psycho-social-spiritual model. With a mission of promoting optimal aging for individuals and communities, VCU Gerontology graduates further the person-centered mission of the department largely in the areas of administration, education, advocacy, and entrepreneurship.

Family and Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia

The Family and Children’s Trust Fund (FACT) was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1986 as a public-private partnership to raise funds, increase awareness and advise on policies for the prevention of family violence, including: child abuse and neglect, domestic violence,  sexual assault, and elder abuse and neglect.  FACT is governed by a Board of Trustees, appointed by the Governor.  Staff is provided through administrative support from the Virginia Department of Social Services.  FACT is the only organization in Virginia that addresses family violence and trauma across the lifespan.

LeadingAge

Leading Age is a professional association representing the not-for-profit continuum of aging services throughout Virginia, including affordable senior housing, nursing homes, adult day, assisted livings, home health, hospice, life plan and continuing care retirement communities. Visit www.leadingagevirginia.org for more information.

Virginia Center on Aging

The Virginia Center on Aging (VCoA) is a statewide agency located on the Medical College of Virginia Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. VCoA was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1978 Code of Virginia 23.1 2311. VCoA's mission is to advance health, well-being and equity for the elders of today and tomorrow. Our innovative research, critical education and impactful service strive to make Virginia a place where its people can thrive at every age. Our expert faculty and staff foster innovation, power our research and dissemination hub, and lead VCoA's efforts as a statewide resource.

Acknowledgements

The project partners wish to acknowledge and thank the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services for its generous funding support for the development of the Trauma-Informed Care Toolkit.