The healthcare industry is facing a critical concern in the form of staffing shortages within care homes. Recent data from the American Health Care Association (AHCA) sheds light on the gravity of this issue, revealing that a staggering 86% of U.S. nursing homes are grappling with moderate to severe staffing shortages.
Staffing challenges are a significant problem that affects the seamless delivery of quality care. This blog will examine the reasons behind these shortages and offer practical solutions to help care home facilities mitigate their effects. We aim to equip care homes with actionable strategies to sustain top-tier care despite staffing shortages.
Care Home Types: A Brief Overview
When it comes to care facilities in the U.S., various types are available to suit the different needs of older adults. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Nursing Homes: These facilities offer 24-hour medical care and supervision for individuals who require constant attention. They provide services like medication management, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing care.
- Assisted Living Facilities: These communities provide a combination of housing and support services, such as personal care, transportation, and meal preparation. They are ideal for older adults who need help with daily activities but can still live independently.
- Memory Care Facilities: These facilities are designed to cater to individuals with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. They offer specialized care and programming to help residents maintain their cognitive abilities.
- Residential Care Homes: These homes provide older adults with a more intimate and personalized living experience. They are smaller and offer a higher staff-to-resident ratio, allowing for more individualized care.
- Continuing Care Retirement Communities: These communities provide a range of options, from independent living to skilled nursing care. They are ideal for individuals who want to age in place and have access to different levels of care as their needs change over time.
Various care home facilities cater to the diverse needs of senior individuals. These facilities are designed to meet specific requirements and provide tailored support to seniors, ensuring that older adults receive the necessary care.
As the Workforce Decreases, the Demand for Care Increases
Since March 2020, the U.S. nursing home industry has lost around 15% of its workforce, which accounts for approximately 235,000 jobs. Despite this, the demand for nursing home care is expected to increase in the coming years due to the growing population of older adults. By 2060, the projected number of adults aged 85 and older is 19 million.
Understanding the Slow Growth
The care home industry is experiencing slower growth due to several job downsides. Hazardous working conditions, poor compensation and benefits, limited opportunities for growth, burnout, and a lack of respect for their profession have driven workers to quit or shift to other healthcare roles in hospitals or private homes.
Although care home jobs are essential, they often offer lower pay and fewer benefits. According to the same AHCA survey, 9 out of 10 nursing homes have tried to address this issue by increasing wages or offering bonuses to recruit and retain staff. Even with these efforts, many facilities still find it challenging to compete with larger companies like Amazon that can provide better pay and benefits.
Nevertheless, 78% of nursing homes stated that they have had to hire temporary staff to meet the needs of their facilities.
The Quality of Care Is at Risk
The medical staff shortage in care homes significantly threatens the quality of care, affecting residents and staff.
- Understaffing can contribute to errors in medication administration, as caregivers may have less time to ensure accurate dosages and monitor residents for potential side effects.
- With insufficient certified nursing assistants, there may not be enough personnel available to respond promptly to calls, which can result in residents waiting for extended periods.
- Low staffing levels may lead to increased emergency hospitalization visits. Proper care within the nursing home setting can help prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.
- Residents' families may become dissatisfied with the level of care, leading to strained relationships between care home facilities and the families they serve.
- Residents may try to attend to their needs independently, increasing the risk of falls.
- Overworked staff may experience higher levels of stress and burnout, potentially compromising their ability to provide compassionate care.
- Staffing challenges in healthcare may result in difficulties meeting compliance requirements, leading to increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies.
Residents, in moments of vulnerability, depend on the attentive care of staff. Staff members, in turn, strive to provide compassionate and quality care. The shortage jeopardizes the delicate balance between these essential elements, potentially compromising the dignity and well-being of the individuals care homes are committed to serving.
Navigating Care Home Staffing Challenges
The need for care home services is on the rise, leading to the need for assistance in maintaining sufficient staffing levels in care homes. The staffing issue affects the quality of care residents receive and can disrupt their daily routines and activities.
Care homes must implement innovative solutions to address these challenges that attract and retain qualified staff. By investing in their staff, care homes can provide uninterrupted, high-quality care to residents and create a healthy work environment that promotes employee satisfaction.
Streamlining Recruitment and HR Tasks
Solution: Nexus HR Services
Navigating the intricacies of recruitment and HR management can be demanding. Nexus HR Services offers a holistic solution, covering the entire employee life cycle—from recruiting processes to remote HR management and payroll services.
By outsourcing administrative responsibilities to Nexus HR, care home facilities can focus on core business aspects, save valuable time, and alleviate the stress of short staffing.
Employee Recognition Programs
Solution: Implement Recognition Initiatives
Establish employee recognition programs to reward outstanding performance. Regularly recognizing and appreciating staff members' hard work can enhance job satisfaction and create a positive workplace culture.
Optimizing Medication Management
Solution: DosePacker Pharmacy Services
Medication management is a critical element of care home operations. DosePacker specializes in supporting care facilities by simplifying medication administration.
DosePacker solutions are designed to address the challenges of care facilities, from multi-dose medication compliance packs to smart medication reminder apps, med carts, and med-room storage solutions. By implementing these services, care homes can significantly enhance medication administration, ensuring safety and efficiency for residents and staff.
Read More:The Benefits of Automated Care Home Technology
Recruitment and Retention Initiatives
Solution: Collaborative Hiring Events
Care homes can organize collaborative hiring events with local educational institutions or community organizations to attract potential caregivers. Offering signing bonuses or referral incentives can further encourage recruitment, while mentorship programs may enhance retention.
Working with Staffing Services for Temporary Staffing
Solution: DrCatalyst Virtual Staffing
In times of staffing shortages, engaging temporary staff becomes crucial. This flexible approach allows care home facilities to address immediate staffing needs without compromising the quality of care.
By leveraging DrCatalyst's virtual staffing services, care homes can seamlessly integrate temporary staff into their operations, ensuring continuous support.
Implementing Flexible Scheduling
Solution: Tailoring Schedules to Staff Preferences
To solve short-staff problems, facilities must take measures to boost employee morale. One way to prevent burnout is by allowing staff members to choose shifts that align with their preferences and personal commitments. This approach creates a positive work environment that fosters job satisfaction and increases staff retention.
Training and Career Development
Solution: Invest in Continuing Education
Provide opportunities for career development. Offering tuition reimbursement, certifications, and skill enhancement programs attracts skilled professionals and contributes to staff retention by fostering a culture of continuous learning.
Considering Collaborative Solutions to Address Workforce Challenges
As the staffing challenges in healthcare pose a significant risk to the quality of care, especially for vulnerable residents, the urgency for innovative solutions becomes paramount. By embracing innovative solutions, streamlining processes, and prioritizing the well-being of residents and staff, care homes can weather the storm and deliver exceptional care to those who depend on them.
At DosePacker, we provide storage, packaging, and delivery services for medication administration in care facilities of all skill levels. We aim to simplify pharmacy workflows and optimize medication management for our clients.
Get in touch with us to learn more and elevate your medication management.
