Cambria County, PA — Nursing home leaders, both local and abroad say their resources are now being strained more than what already was.
This after Vice President, Kamala Harris, announced federal requirements for nursing home staffing. The new rules state registered nurses must be available 24/7 at facilities. They also require staff to spend up to almost 4 hours a day with residents.
“It shows what is optimal staffing, and they’re now calling it minimum staffing, which is just not appropriate. On any given day, you have a call off, you have a staffing challenge, and we believe our residents below that number are still safe and well cared for.” says the C.E.O. of Laurel View Village, Timothy Mock.
According to Susie Tack Beardsley, with Quality Life Services, because this mandate is not funded, that in itself poses its own challenges of employee pay, and retention.
“For almost everybody in healthcare, it is a challenge to find staff. specifically, nurses aides, LPN's, RN’s. we’re not alone in that. there is a real shortage.” Beardsley says. She says the industry in the commonwealth needs around “8,000 more workers to be able to fulfill this ratio.”
“We are going to face the very real possibility that we’re going to have to limit the number of people that can receive care.” Says Beardsley.
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