“For many years Alden has engaged in an ongoing practice of profiting from systematically and knowingly understaffing the Alden facilities, causing dangerous, distressing, and grossly unsanitary living conditions for thousands of residents.” UNSAFE STAFFING AARP filed a class action for unsafe staffing against Alden Group, one of the largest health care providers for older adults
“The gulf between employers and the employed is constantly widening, and classes are rapidly forming, one comprising the very rich and powerful, while in another are found the toiling poor…. Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people’s masters.” –President Grover
Federal legislation requires that facilities have a physician as their medical director. The medical directors supervise clinical care quality, policy and staff. Medical directors fill a variety of roles depending on the services a nursing facility provides. McKnight’s reported on the bipartisan bill that would require nursing homes to report their medical directors’ credentials and background
ABC News reported on a video that recorded a certified nursing assistant, Claire Garrovillas, roughly handling a nursing home resident. The most disturbing part of the video is the ordinary nature of the abuse. The caregiver approaches the resident normally. Without provocation or justification, she violently slaps the vulnerable adult on his face like it’s
The obvious benefits of safe and sufficient staffing in number and competency is key to quality care. Safe staffing means better quality and better resident outcomes. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services hired Abt Associates to research safe staffing. CMS will mandate staffing next year. Alan White, PhD is the principal at Abt Associates.
Frontline caregivers accuse nursing home of saving millions by keeping staff below safe levels. Happens all the time unfortunately.