The decision by many nursing home aides to choose higher unemployment payments over their regular paychecks during the Coronavirus pandemic poses a significant staffing challenge.
For example, one CNA working for a staffing agency, and who has been a nursing assistant for 20 years, stopped working about two months ago. She has three school-aged children whose education is now conducted online. Without her supervision, the children were not answering teachers’ questions or doing their assignments. Thus, the CNA opted to go on unemployment and reports she is now receiving more money staying home than when she worked.
One nurse staffing agency reported that 30% of its certified nursing aides (CNAs) are taking unemployment.
When asked about this staffing shortage, the CEO of a staffing company operating in 14 states to help facilities fill empty shifts said, “Without them, you’ve got administrators, cafeteria workers, you’ve got all sorts of nurses performing the CNA duties. And then you just have people that are not getting attention because there’s just not enough people working.”
He pointed out that two-thirds of the workforce in a typical nursing home is made up of CNAs, and they are the staff members with the closest connections to the residents. They are also the staff that spot health problems when they first surface.
Prior to COVID-19, the staffing company was able to find workers for about 80% of the shifts in the facilities they work with, but that is now down to 50%.
While Congress debates extending the extra $600 per week unemployment benefit past the month of July, some facilities have been able to pay their staff bonuses during the pandemic. Unfortunately, not all facilities are able to offer that extra pay.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
Failure to furnish the number of staff needed to provide the level of care required by residents, particularly with the added stress and work during the COVID-19 outbreak, may result in placing residents in jeopardy due to their not receiving adequate care and be deemed abuse, neglect, and provision of substandard quality of care, in violation of federal and state regulations.
Discussion Points
- Review policies and procedures regarding provision of staffing for the care needs of the residents and developing financial or other incentives for maintaining staff. Review the Facility Assessment required by F838 to ensure it is current with all risks necessitating change that have occurred from COVID-19.
- Train staff regarding abuse and neglect, and acknowledge the important role that they play in the care of residents.
- Periodically audit to ensure that adequate staffing levels of competent workers are maintained.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS TOPIC view: COMPLETING YOUR FACILITY ASSESSMENT and RECRUITING NEW EMPLOYEES – PAVING THE ROAD TO OBTAINING COMPETENT STAFF
