Are Staffing Shortages Leading To Nursing Home Neglect?

Nursing home neglect is a serious concern for everyone. Treating our elderly members of society with respect and ensuring their later years are happy and healthy is something we must strive to do. However, neglect is still rampant and a huge issue. One of the reasons for this might be the fact that many nursing homes are suffering from staffing shortages.

According to ABC News, a recent study showed that understaffing nursing homes is endangering patients. Congress will hear more on this with the hopes they will be able to help find a solution. In the meantime, the concerns are that the lack of proper staff members is leaving patients without the constant care and supervision they need to stay healthy and safe.

The requirements for care in a nursing home setting are that patients should be seen at least 12 minutes each day by a registered nurse, which is not occurring in 31 percent of nursing homes.  Such a lack of care has led to an increase in the number of patients suffering from preventable issues with weight loss, bed sores, and malnutrition. If you have a loved one in a nursing home, this should be of serious concern to you.

The hope is that when Congress takes a look at the report, they will make stricter guidelines and do something to help with the staffing crisis. The new proposed guidelines include a recommendation that each patient receives at least two hours of care from nurse aides each day. These requirements are not being met in the majority of nursing homes currently. This information is only intended to educate and should not be interpreted as legal advice.

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