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Center of Excellence Personnel
Kelsey V. Simons, Ph.D., LMSW
VA Appointment: Investigator
Academic Affiliation: Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry,
University of Rochester Medical Center
|
Research InterestsMy primary research interest is to identify and address suicide risk following discharges to the community from skilled nursing facilities. Many older adults, including older Veterans enrolled in VHA care, receive short-term rehabilitation in skilled nursing facilities following a hospitalization. The overall goal of my work is to develop care transition and community-based interventions that decrease the risk of suicide among older Veterans with complex health and mental health concerns. Care transitions present a critical period for intervening with mental and behavioral health concerns that contribute to suicide risk in this population. |
Current Funding
| DATES | SPONSOR | PROJECT | ROLE | |
| 2019-2023 | HSR&D Merit Award | Implementing the Behavioral Activities Intervention (BE-ACTIV) to reduce depression among Veterans in Community Living Centers | Co-I | |
| Develop an implementation strategy for a behavioral activation intervention in CLCs. | ||||
| 2019-2023 | QUERI Partnered Evaluation | Maximizing effectiveness of case management in primary care for rural Veternas | Consultant | |
| Evaluating the effectiveness of social work case management in rural PACT teams in relation to Veterans' health and behavioral health outcomes. | ||||
Past Funding
| DATES | SPONSOR | PROJECT | ROLE | |
| 01/17-09/18 | VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention/VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention | Examining behavioral health and suicide risk during care transitions from VA nursing facilities: A mixed methods study | PI | |
| Multi-site, mixed methods study to examine reintegration into the community and risks for suicide following short-term stays in VA nursing facilities. | ||||
| 04/18-09/18 | VA Innovators Network Seed Grant - pilot project | Suicide Awareness of Veterans exiting the CLC (SAVE-CLC) | Co-I/Evaluation Lead | |
| Pilot the SAVE-CLC intervention at two additional VA medical centers. | ||||
| 10/14-09/17 | VISN 2 Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention | Veterans in transition: Returning to the community after a nursing home stay | PI | |
| Qualitative study to examine Veteran and caregiver experiences with transitions of care from nursing homes to the community. | ||||
| 04/17-09/17 | VA Innovators Network Spark Grant - proof of concept | Suicide Awareness of Veterans exiting the CLC (SAVE-CLC) | Co-I | |
| Test the feasibility of a care transition intervention (depression screening and support by phone) for Veterans discharged to the community from VA nursing homes. | ||||
| 08/13-09/16 | Military Suicide Research Consortium (MSRC) of U.S. Army Medical Researc and Materiel Command (MOMRP) | Warning Signs for Suicide Attempts | Site PI/Coordinator | |
| Identify warning signs for suicide attempts among recent suicide attempters. | ||||
| 2012-2013 | Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work (University of Toronto)/Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Institutional Grant (SIG) | Psychosocial Services in Ontario's Long-term Care Homes | PI | |
| Qualitative study to examine the structure/process of psychosocial services in Ontario's nursing homes. | ||||
| 2010-2013 | Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada | Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment among Ontario's Social Workers in Health and Aging | PI | |
| Longitudinal survey of employment experiences of Ontario's social workers in aging. | ||||
| 2007-2009 | Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (HealthForce Ontario) | 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-I | |
| Implement and evaluate best practice guidelines for depression treatment in a nursing faciity using a participatory action approach. | ||||
| 2003-2005 | John A. Hartford Foundation - Doctoral Fellows Program | Factors Influencing Nursing Home Social Workers' Intentions to Quit Employment | PI | |
| Doctoral dissertation research to examine social workers' job satisfaction and intentions to stay employed in their jobs. | ||||
