✨ Staffing in Regulated Sectors (SNF & AL)

Staffing was supposed to be enhanced in health care but Leading Age and owners of for profit nursing homes are trying to reduce federal minimum staffing requirements. Are your residents or state organizations working on enhancing staffing so as to improve resident care?

It seems to me that mandating staffing levels is not a complete solution. Those who can pay find facilities that are properly staffed. But this is one of the services that our free enterprise system does poorly. Adequate staff paid a living wage is expensive. Most who require skilled nursing care can't afford it even with help from family.

All providers, including the non-profits, must find the funding to maintain a positive cash flow. As generous as Americans are, there is not an abundance of tax money or charitable donations to support nursing home staffing. Medicaid is supposed to meet that need, but falls short. The problem is mostly political and the national sentiment seems to favor lower taxes and less government funded social benevolence. How do we advocate for a realistic sustainable solution?

To advocate for a realistic sustainable solution, don't we have to have some idea of what that solution might be? Are there other countries that have solved this problem--or at least are doing better than we are--, and, if so, how have they done this?

The CEO of my CCRC reported that LeadingAge thinks the solution lies in immigration.

As part of an effort to strengthen the ties between residents and staff (to reduce turnover), at the monthly meeting of the CEO with residents, a different staff member each time gives a very personal talk about his/her life and career. These have been enhanced with photos, and in one case a musical performance.

At my Erickson Community with 2,000, residents and 10 restaurants, there are on each table rectqngular boxes with specials on it and a bio, usually with a picture, of a restaurant worker. The staff at the restaurants and around campus are often immigrants. The servers are high school students and there is a great deal of interaction with them.It helps us and them.

The National Consumer Voice [for SNF and AL] has taken a position in support of the staffing mandate.

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However, more staff = more cost = higher fees passed on to residents plus profit margin.

Once the incoming administration deports all who are not "real Americans" just who do we think will fill these low wage jobs?