Consumer Voice’s Staffing Report
Consumer Voice issued another staffing report. Understaffing has plagued nursing homes for years. Residents have suffered due to insufficient and sporadic care. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare for the country the result of years of not investing in resident care. On February 28, 2022, the Biden Administration announced it would be implementing a minimum staffing standard for nursing homes and increasing scrutiny on corporate owned nursing homes. Consumer Voice’s new report looks at federal data regarding nursing home staffing levels and how it effects outcome for residents.
The report found that:
- Nursing homes with higher staffing levels have higher overall, health inspection, and staffing ratings.
- As staffing levels decrease in nursing homes, the instances of resident abuse rise.
- Nursing homes with higher RN staffing levels have higher overall, health inspection, and staffing ratings. They also are less likely to have been cited for abuse.
Consumer Voice’s report supports the Biden Administration’s call for a minimum staffing standard. It is urgent that we act now to take steps to address these issues and protect residents of nursing homes.