An Ethical Analysis of the Mitigation Measures, Restrictions, and Social Isolation of Long Term Care Residents during the Covid-19 Pandemic (1 credit hour)

Program Summary:  This course offers an ethical analysis of the mitigation measures, restrictions, and social isolation of long term care residents during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The course explores concepts of harm, proportionality, reciprocity, and transparency.  Ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, maleficence, and justice are examined.  The reading also includes surveys of long term care family members measuring the impact of restrictions on their relatives’ physical and mental conditions.

This course is recommended for social workers and is appropriate for beginning and intermediate levels of practice.  This course is not recommended for NBCC ethics credit.

“Book  Open the Course Reading Here.

Course Readings:

Reading 1:  Social Isolation of Older Adults in Long Term Care as a Result of Covid-19 Mitigation Measures During the Covid-19 Pandemic by Cathy Purvis Lively; Published by Voices in Bioethics

Reading 2:  The Devastating Effect of Lockdowns on Residents of Long-Term Care Facilies During Covid-19 by the Consumer Voice/ https://theconsumervoice.org

Reading 3:  Limitations on Visitation Continue to Harm Nursing Home Residents by the Consumer Voice/ https://theconsumervoice.org

Course Objectives:  To enhance professional practice, values, skills and knowledge by offering an ethical analysis of the mitigation measures and restrictions on LTC residents during the Covid-19 pandemic

Learning Objectives:  Identify the concepts of harm, proportionality, reciprocity, and transparency.  Give examples of the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, maleficence. Describe the impact of mitigation efforts and restrictions on LTC residents during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Review our pre-reading study guide.

Course Available Until: July 31, 2026.

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1: Social isolation can be as dangerous as smoking _________ cigarettes per day, earning its designation as a public health priority.
 
 
 
 
2: Isolation increases the risk of
 
 
 
 
 
3: WHO defines health as
 
 
4: Jacobson v. Massachusetts clarified as essential point of law- the rights and liberties secured by the US Constitution
 
 
5: Whether the restrictions were the least restrictive means to protect the high-risk population addresses the concept of _________.
 
 
 
6: The balancing of the benefits and burdens of the social cooperation describes the concept of
 
 
 
7: Protecting the high-risk resident from a deadly disease while acknowledging the associated harm describes
 
 
 
 
8: Perceiving the long-term care resident as a passive recipient of care is paternalistic and antithetical to
 
 
 
 
9: Recognizing the adult as having value and equal worth describes the concept of
 
 
 
 
10: In the January 15, 2021 The Consumer Voice report, LTC family members reported declines in their relatives' ___________ .
 
 
 
 

In order to purchase or take this course, you will need to log in. If you do not have an account, you will need to register for a free account.

After you log in, a link will appear here that will allow you to purchase this course.

G.M. Rydberg-Cox, MSW, LSCSW is the Continuing Education Director at Free State Social Work and responsible for the development of this course.  She received her Masters of Social Work in 1996 from the Jane Addams School of Social Work at the University of Illinois-Chicago and she has over 20 years of experience.  She has lived and worked as a social worker in Chicago, Boston, and Kansas City. She has practiced for many years in the area of hospital/medical social work.  The reading materials for this course were developed by another organization.

Course Available Until: July 31, 2026.
Filed under: Covid-19, Ethics