Before the pandemic, nursing home employment was increasing every year for a whole decade. However, since the beginning of the COVID crisis, nursing home staffing has fallen to record lows and 99% of nursing homes are now facing a staffing shortage.
The pandemic has caused 62% of healthcare workers to say they have experienced additional amounts of stress and many of them are reporting physical and mental effects of this stress. Sadly, the toll this has taken on nursing homes is that 78% are now facing the possibility of closing down due to a lack of staff. Of course, while their doors remain open, this staffing shortage is also taking a toll on residents.
Residents are not receiving the same quality of care as they did prior to 2020. Less staff means less help at meal times, less frequent bathing, more risk of falls and wounds, and less frequent turning to prevent bed sores.
If nursing homes are unable to combat the shortage, the American population will be facing an even more serious crisis as 1 in 5 US adults will turn retirement age within the next decade and 2 out of every 3 will require long term care at some time or another.
Nursing homes can help to keep the staff they have and to recruit more by offering mental health support, ensuring safety for staff, and offering staff appreciation, as well as offering continued education and training opportunities to new recruits.
