When you place your loved ones in a care center or nursing home, you assume that they will be in good hands. Many people move their elderly family members into a center because they are unable to provide adequate care for them at home. In fact, more than 1.4 million people currently reside in nursing homes across the country, according to PBS.org.
Like many other industries, however, the nursing home staff is in high demand and in short supply. A number of care centers cannot find adequate staff to care for the many residents, and in some cases, elderly patients may suffer as a result of the shortage.
Nursing home shortage
Data from Medicare payroll reports reveal that many nursing homes do not have appropriate staffing coverage, leaving residents to wait for needed care. In the past, nursing homes self reported staffing coverage through unverified reports. Now that the payroll reports have shed light on the situation, people can see what this means for nursing home residents who are neglected proper care.
Caring for residents
Understaffed care centers simply cannot provide the attention needed for all the residents in the home. Consequently, the number of patient falls and injuries have increased. Nursing home residents have also experienced the following as a result:
- Bedsores from neglect
- Late or missed meals
- Bathroom accidents
- Late or missed medication
Nurses and aides must bathe, dress, feed and medicate residents each day, and in some nursing home centers, there are simply not enough people to perform the tasks.
Elderly residents deserve proper care and attention and should be protected from preventable injuries and neglect.
