LeadingAge Maryland’s Post

The Silent Crisis: Our Nursing Homes Are in Danger I want to shed light on a growing crisis that's not getting the attention it deserves - the severe shortage of Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and staff in our skilled nursing homes. These dedicated professionals are the backbone of long-term care. They provide the hands-on support our most vulnerable citizens need to live with dignity. But they're leaving the profession in droves, and it's putting both our seniors and the entire healthcare system at risk. The reasons are complex: Low wages and benefits Burnout from short staffing and high-acuity residents Limited career advancement opportunities Lack of respect for the vital role they play This isn't just a problem for the nursing home industry. As the population ages, we'll all be impacted. Our parents, grandparents, and eventually ourselves will need these services. Do we want a system where there's no one to care for those who cared for us? We need action: Better compensation and benefits to attract and retain staff Technology to improve efficiency and reduce burnout Career ladders and education support to advance skills A shift in culture to truly value these critical caregivers This is a call to healthcare leaders, policymakers, and anyone who cares about the future of long-term care. Let's work together to strengthen our nursing homes and ensure our seniors receive the care they deserve. Share your ideas and solutions in the comments. Let's start a conversation that leads to change. #cna #administartors #cnastudents #healthcareleaders #policymakers #impacthealthcarestaffing

Nursing home healthcare leaders and the LTC healthcare industry should be deeply concerned about the ongoing debate over federal regulations on nurse staffing standards. The proposed rule, while aiming to address critical issues in care quality and patient safety, presents significant financial burdens and operational challenges for facilities already grappling with pandemic pressures and workforce shortages. The insistence on implementing strict hourly requirements without clear plans for workforce support and distribution of necessary funding creates uncertainty and strain on an industry already stretched thin. It's imperative for policymakers to consider the nuanced realities of nursing home operations and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that any regulatory changes effectively balance the need for improved care standards with the sustainability of long-term care facilities and access to quality care for vulnerable populations.

I love the last comment in the article….

So sad but so true! Few Nursing Homes Would Comply With Recommended Staffing Standard, Analysis Shows By Arielle Dreher According to an analysis by KFF, over 70% of nursing homes would be unable to meet a staffing requirement recommended by a 2021 report commissioned by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The report recommended a minimum of 4.1 direct care hours per resident day, a metric reflecting total hours worked by aides, registered nurses, and other staff. KFF found that a requirement of 3 direct care hours per resident day could be met by 85% of nursing homes. However, fewer than 50% could meet a requirement of 3.5 direct care hours per resident day, and just 29% could meet a requirement of 4 direct care hours per resident day. KFF said the share of nursing homes able to meet a requirement of 4 direct care hours per resident day ranges from 12% in Texas to 100% in Alaska. #LNC #personalinjurylawyer #personalinjuryattorney #personalinjurylaw #nursinghomeabuse #nursinghomelaw #elderabuse #elderneglect #YvonneHansonAndAssociates

Nursing home leaders and the LTC healthcare industry should be deeply concerned about the ongoing debate over federal regulations on the nurse staffing standards. The proposed rule, while aiming to address issues in patent care quality and safety, presents significant financial burdens and operational challenges for facilities already swimming with pandemic pressures and workforce shortages. It's imperative for policymakers to consider the realities of nursing home operations and collaborate to ensure that any regulatory changes effectively balance the need for improved care standards with the sustainability of long-term quality care for our aging and already aged population. Let’s talk agency fees? Hourly charges? SNSA rates?

The recent CMS Staffing Mandate has highlighted a critical issue in our aging care sector: a severe workforce shortage. As LeadingAge Maryland points out, the state would need 206 additional full-time registered nurses, and more than 1,897 full-time nursing assistants to comply – professionals who simply aren't available in the current job market. While well-intentioned, top-down mandates can't solve a problem of this magnitude. We need creative, community-driven solutions to grow and sustain our direct care workforce. This shortage isn't unique to Maryland. It's a national crisis that demands innovative, multi-faceted solutions: ↳ Enhancing education and training programs to attract new talent ↳ Improving compensation and benefits to retain existing caregivers ↳ Leveraging technology to support and augment human care ↳ Creating clear career pathways to make caregiving a desirable long-term profession ↳ Addressing burnout and mental health concerns in the industry While we can't solve the pressing workforce issues in aging care alone, we're deeply inspired by the leaders paving the way, tackling our workforce challenges from multiple angles. Some are spearheading new and inventive training for caregivers, nurses, and medical students, while others are pioneering innovative ways to grow (and fairly compensate) our direct care workforce. These leaders are lighting the path toward a more sustainable future in aging care and we'd like to recognize them here: 📣 Amy Leigh Overton-Mccoy and her team at UAMS - University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. 📣 Kelly Aldrich DNP, RN, NI-BC, FHIMSS, FAAN, Kanah Lewallen, Jennifer Kim and colleagues at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing. 📣 Jaime Hannans and team at California State University Channel Islands. 📣 Sean Kelly, Kari Olson, and the Front Porch Communities & Services team. 📣 Marvell Adams Jr., Chance Browning, and Caregiver Action Network. 📣 Susan DeMarois and the California Department of Aging's #CalGROWS initiative. 📣 Plus our own Carrie Cusker MS, BSN, RN and Tonia Nguyen, OTD, OTR/L for their dedicated work alongside our mighty Embodied Labs® team. We call for the continued collaboration needed to build a robust, resilient, well-compensated workforce that can provide quality care for our aging population. Together, we can create a future of healthy aging for all.

🚀 **Support the Nursing Workforce: Advocate for the Commission on Nursing Repayment!** 🚀 As a proud advocate for nurses and healthcare professionals, I am committed to supporting the Commission on Nursing Repayment. Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, tirelessly providing care and compassion in every community. **Why This Matters:** - Alleviating the financial burden on nurses allows them to focus on what they do best: caring for patients. - Investing in our nursing workforce strengthens our healthcare system and ensures high-quality care for all. **How You Can Help:** 1. **Raise Awareness**: Share this post to spread the word about the importance of loan repayment programs for nurses. 2. **Get Involved**: Contact your local representatives and urge them to support funding for these critical programs. 3. **Join the Conversation**: Use the hashtag #SupportNurses and share your stories and experiences. Together, we can make a difference. Let's ensure our nurses receive the support and recognition they deserve. #nursingonlinkedin #healthcareonlinkedin #timeforchange #nursingreimbursement

In honor of Older Americans Month, we’re spotlighting this piece about how most nursing homes don’t have enough staff to meet the federal government’s new rules. The Biden administration’s finalized nursing home staffing rules in April, which requires thousands of facilities to hire more nurses and aides. These rulings were spurred by disproportionate deaths from COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. Read More 📣: https://lnkd.in/ezQWux2Y

For the longterm care industry, “controversial” is only one of many adjectives that has been used to describe the regulations, which require a minimum of 3.48 hours of nursing care per day, per resident, from both nurses and nurse aides in any facility which receives Medicare or Medicaid funding. Every nursing home must also have an RN on site at all times. Here's a perspective that may help your planning and approach to staffing. https://buff.ly/3Sib10r #longtermcare #seniorcare

https://lnkd.in/eK83bJS4 This is a good starting point.However resident health needs assessment such as total dependency for mobility, daily personal care , feeding to mention this few may impact care provided to residents is out of the 100 residents with only 3 to 6 nurses there are 30 residents fully dependent. Therefore great to see the current as a minimum to encourage care home to strive above the minimum.