Nursing Homes – The White House pushes for federal minimum staff requirement for nursing homes after deaths and neglect

Lisa Cabrera recounts her experience with nursing home neglect for “her dad, Lou- ie Sira.” Her story adds “to decades of accumulated evidence that residents suf- fer more complications, such as bed sores and falls, in nursing homes with inad- equate numbers of front-line nurses and nursing assistants.” To combat the issue, “the Biden administration has set in motion plans for a federal minimum staffing requirement for the nation’s 15,500 nursing homes,” with the new rule expected to be announced in 2023.

The industry has spoken out against a broad mandate, cit- ing staff shortages worsened by the pan- demic. But “critics counter that the nurs- ing home industry has abundant profit available to boost staffing and make the jobs more attractive.” AARP Founda- tion Vice President of Litigation Kelly Bagby said “shortchanging the direct- care workforce – primarily made up of women and people of color – with low pay, poor training and insufficient num- bers is a tempting way for nursing homes to boost the bottom line.” The Post also highlights a class-action lawsuit brought by the AARP Foundation against the Alden Group, “alleging chronic short- staffing and neglect.” (Washington Post – 11/15/22)