Title: Understaffing in Nursing Homes Leads to Low Standard of Care
Headings: Nursing Home Understaffing Leads to Poor Quality Care and Elder Abuse
Nursing Home Understaffing Leads to Poor Quality Care and Elder Abuse
Why Resident-to-Staff Ratio Is Important
According to Federal data, most nursing homes have fewer staff than they report.
When there is understaffing in nursing homes, essential tasks are neglected, such as:
Hiring Unqualified Staff Puts Residents at Risk
Untrained staff have many shortfalls, including:
Increasing Numbers of Qualified Staff to Raise the Standard of Care
Author:

Content: Understaffing in Nursing Homes Leads to Low Standard of Care
Nursing Home Understaffing Leads to Poor Quality Care and Elder Abuse
Posted on April 18, 2019
April 30, 2019
by Nursing Home Abuse Justice Team
Understaffing and unqualified staffing in nursing homes put elderly residents at risk of neglect and abuse. Understaffing in nursing homes is a common problem with severe consequences. Nursing home regulations are in place to protect helpless residents from neglect and abuse. However, nursing homes with too few staff or staff that are unqualified frequently receive fines for violating these regulations. Inadequate nursing home staffing causes tragedies, including medical errors, deadly falls and bed sores. A caregiver shortage forces staff to prioritize certain duties over others. This often means overlooking responsibilities like preventing infection, controlling accident hazards, maintaining sanitary conditions and improving resident well-being. Understaffing in nursing homes reduces the standard of care and puts residents at risk. On the other hand, studies show that a good ratio of staff to residents increases the quality of care and improves health among residents. Why Resident-to-Staff Ratio Is Important
Nursing homes are staffed on a ratio of residents to staff.