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: When staff face burnout, they quit or move onto higher-paying jobs in hospitals. The high turnover rate in nursing homes causes a rush to recruit new employees. This constant battle encourages facilities to hire unqualified staff and skip critical training periods. Hiring Unqualified Staff Puts Residents at Risk
Staff also get burnt out when they don’t have proper training or tools. Unfortunately, nursing homes often fail to screen staff before hiring. Unqualified staff may be hired even if they don’t have the required training or experience. Untrained staff have many shortfalls, including: Lack of awareness of nursing home policies
No training for dealing with resident aggression
Not understanding the rights of nursing home residents
Inability to adapt to the shifting needs of residents
Hiring unqualified staff puts residents at risk of all forms of abuse. Without training and experience, staff may unknowingly subject residents to abuse or neglect. For example, elders facing cognitive decline may act violently or aggressively.