Social work professor Mercedes Bern-Klug specializes in gerontology with a focus on long-term services and supports for older persons and persons with disabilities. She coordinates the Aging and Longevity Studies Program, which offers an undergraduate minor or a graduate certificate in gerontology.  

Bern-Klug conducts research on how social workers and other health care providers can support older adults and their family members with the emotional  and psychosocial implications of advancing chronic illness and medical decision-making.  Much of her research has taken place with nursing home residents, their family members, and staff.  She is a Fulbright Faculty Scholar (University of Guadalajara -Mexico), and a fellow with the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare, the leading national organization that recognizes outstanding scholarship in Social Work as well as a fellow with the Gerontological Society of America, and a John A. Hartford Geriatric Social Work Faculty Scholar.  She was awarded the National Association of Social Worker’s Ruth Knee-Whittman Award for Outstanding Achievement  in Health and Mental Health Policy. Bern-Klug serves on the board of the Johnson County-United Nations Association. 

Research interests 

• Gerontology, demography
• Long-term care
• Psychosocial issues in advanced chronic illness
• Nursing home social work
• End-of-life issues
• Funeral arrangements
• Creative writing for social workers

Teaching areas 

• Introduction to Nursing Homes
• Global Aging
• Research Methods

Work experience

• Administration in the field of aging
• Community organizing and education

Recent publications

Books

• Editors: Kaye, L.W., Lubben, J., Bern-Klug, M., Ng, T.K., O’Sullivan, R.O., and Smith, M.L. (2025) International Perspectives on Older Adult Social Isolation and Loneliness. Open Access ebook. https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/58575/international-perspectives-on-older-adult-social-isolation-and-loneliness/magazine
• Bonifas, R., & Bern-Klug, M. (eds.) (2024). Nursing home social work research. Routledge Taylor Francis, New York.
• Bern-Klug, M. (Ed.) (2010). Transforming palliative care in nursing homes: The social work role. Columbia University Press.

Journal articles 

• Levine, M., & Bern-Klug, M. (2024). ‘They make the will, but they want the food:’ Staff perspectives on challenges in implementing dementia advance directors related to stopping feeding. Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care. Open access: https://doi.org/10.1080/15524256.2024.2365368
• Kusmaul, N., Bern-Klug, M., Smith, K., & Cheek, D.W. (2023). High quality resident care increases likelihood that nursing home social service directors report thriving at work. Social Work in Health Care. DOI: 10.1080/00981389.2023.2208174
• Kusmaul, N., Becker, T.D., Hector, P., Bern-Klug, M., & Smith, K.M. (2023). High interest in pursuing trauma-informed care in nursing home social services directors. Journal of Applied Gerontology, https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648231153729
• Kusmaul, N., Roberts, A.R., Hector, P., Galambos, C., Zimmerman, S., Bern-Klug, M., Connolly, R., Wang, X., & Herman, C. (2023). Social workers critical to honoring commitments to residents and families in long-term care. Journal of Gerontological Social Work. https://www.tandfonline.com/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1080/01634372.2023.21819 04
• Bern-Klug, M., & Bergen-Jackson, K. (2022). Trusting relationships in a retirement community: How swift actions likely saved lives. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48, (10), 54-56. Reflections on Aging submission. doi:10.3928/00989134-20220909-02
• Kwak, J., Smith, K.M. Bern-Klug, M. & Kalin, K. (2021). Dementia care involvement and training needs of social services directors in U.S. nursing homes. Journal ofGerontological Social Work, 64(7): 851-862. [Special Issue] DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2021.1965686
• Wang, X., Simons, K., Gammonley, D., Roberts, A.R., & Bern-Klug, M. (2021). Social service directors’ roles and self-efficacy in suicide risk management in US nursing homes. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 64(7): 791-810.[Special issue] DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2021.1936331

Mercedes Bern-Klug CV