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VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention

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Kelsey V. Simons, PhD, LMSW
Researcher

Biography 

Publications 

Presentations 

Grants 

Kelsey V. Simons

Biography: Dr. Kelsey Simons completed her PhD at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Wayne State University’s Institute of Gerontology (Institutional T32, Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award). She spent seven years as a social work researcher in Canada at the Baycrest, Rotman Research Institute, before taking up her position at the Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention as Health Science Specialist.

Research Interests: Dr. Simons’ primary research focus is on mental health during late life transitions of care. This includes an interest in examining risk factors for depression and suicide during transitions to and from nursing homes as well as improving psychosocial and transitional care in this setting. Her previous research includes studies of the social work workforce in aging in both the US and Canada. Her work has been supported by the John A Hartford Foundation and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Recent Publications:

Conner, K. & Simons, K. (in press). State of innovation on suicide intervention research with Veteran populations. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior.

Bonifas, R., Simons, K., Biel, B., & Kramer, C. (in press). Aging and place in long-term care settings: Influences on social relationships. Journal of Aging and Health.

Bonifas, R., & Simons, K. (2014). An examination of the factor structure of the Hartford Geriatric Social Work Competency Scale II Assessment and Intervention subscales. Educational Gerontology, 40(9), 700-712.

Simons, K.., Bern-Klug, M. & An, S. (2012). Envisioning quality psychosocial care in nursing homes: The role of social work. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association,13(9), 800-805.

Bonifas, R., Gammonley, D., & Simons, K. (2012). Gerontological social workers' perceived efficacy for influencing client outcomes. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 55(6), 519–536.

Simons, K.., Connolly, B., Bonifas, R., Allen, L., Bailey, K., Downes, D., & Galambos, C. (2012). Psychosocial assessment of nursing home residents via MDS 3.0: Recommendations for social service training, staffing, and roles in interdisciplinary care. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 13(2), 190.e9 – 190.e15

Huijbregts, M., Sokoloff, L. G, Feldman, S., Conn, D. K, Simons, K., Walsh, L., Dunal, L., Goodman, R., & Khatri, N. (2012). Pilot implementation of mental health guidelines in a long-term care home. Journal of Research in Interprofessional Practice and Education, 2(2), 134-151.

Simons, K., Bonifas, R., & Gammonley, D. (2011). Commitment of licensed social workers to aging practice. Health and Social Work, 36(3), 183-195.

Simons, K. & Park - Lee, E. (2009). Social work students’ comfort for end-of-life care. Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, 5(1), 34-48.

Simons, K. & Bonifas, R. (2009). Social work students’ career intentions for nursing home employment: A North American survey. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 52(3), 294-314.

Recent Presentations: 

Simons, K., Bonifas, R., Biel, B., & Kramer, C. (2013). Aging and place in long-term care settings: Influences on social relationships. Paper presented an the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.

Simons, K., An, S., & Bonifas, R. (2013). Factors associated with self-efficacy in assessment and intervention among social workers in aging. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.

Simons, K. (2013). Psychosocial services in Ontario’s long-term care homes: A pilot study. OLTCA: Fourth Annual LTC Applied Research Education Day, Toronto, ON.

Simons, K. & Downes, D. (2012). Raising the bar: Social work action to improve nursing home psychosocial care. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Washington, DC.

An, S. & Simons, K. (2012). Factors influencing job satisfaction for Ontario social workers in health and aging. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Gerontology, Vancouver, BC.

Huijbregts, M., Sokoloff, L., Feldman, S., Conn, D., Walsh, L., Simons, K., Dunal, L., Goodman, R. & Khatri, N. (2011).  Engaging staff in guideline implementation through participatory action. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Gerontology, Ottawa, ON. 

An, S., Simons, K. & Ahluwalia, A. (2011).Workplace conditions for social workers in hospitals and other aging practice settings in Ontario. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Gerontology, Ottawa, ON.

Bonifas, R. P., Simons, K. & Gammonley, D. (2011). The retention of licensed social workers in gerontological social work. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Social Work and Research, Tampa, Fl.

Bonifas, R., Simons, K., & Gammonley, D. (2010). The social work workforce in nursing homes: Settings, roles, responsibilities and satisfaction. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.

Galambos, C., Simons, K., Bern-Klug, M., Parker-Oliver, D., Bergofsky, L., Castle, N., & Zaniletti, I. (2010). Nursing home administrators’ perceptions of psychosocial care in nursing homes: Report on a national survey. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.

Simons, K., Sokoloff, L., Huijbregts, M., Goodman, R., Conn, D. K., Feldman, S., Dunal, L., Khatri, N., & Walsh, L. (2010). Participatory action research in a long-term care home. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, New Orleans, LA.

Recent Grants:

Principal investigator: Simons, K. Veterans in Transition: Returning to the Community after a Nursing Home Stay, VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention Canandaigua VA Medical Center (2014-2016)

Principal investigator: Simons, K. Psychosocial Services in Ontario’s Long-term Care Homes. University of Toronto, Faculty of Social Work Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Institutional Grant. (SIG) (2012-2013).

Principal investigator: Simons, K. Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment among Ontario's Social Workers in Health and Aging. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (Standard Research Grant # 410-2009-2395) (2009-2013).

Co-Investigator: Simons, K. Implementation of the Best Practice Guidelines of the Canadian Coalition of Seniors Mental Health (CCSMH): Focus on Assessment and Treatment of Mental Health Issues in Long Term Care Homes. (Co-PIs: Huijbregts, M. & Feldman, S.) HealthForce Ontario, Interprofessional Care/ Education Fund Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (Grant#: ICEF0708002) (2007-2009).

Principal Investigator: Simons, K. Factors Influencing Nursing Home Social Workers’ Intentions to Quit Employment. John A. Hartford Foundation – Hartford Doctoral Fellows Program. (2003-2005).

 

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