When you put your loved ones in a nursing home, you expect that they will not be neglected and that they will get the proper care. It goes beyond human decency and compassion. That is literally what the workers are getting paid to do. It’s just professionalism.
But how much are those workers really getting paid? If they made more money, would the residents under their care get better treatment?
Some people have made that case in the past. One director wrote that increasing wages was the “best solution to…lift caregiving staff out of poverty…and improve care for residents.”
Think about that for a moment. If a job pays so little that the person doing that job is trapped in a cycle of poverty, how devoted are they going to be to that job? Are they just going through the motions, or are they actually giving residents the high-level care that they deserve?
This isn’t a slight against those in poverty, but rather a critique of an industry that makes a lot of money and may not put as much as it should back into wages. After all, low-wage jobs typically have a high turnover rate. The best workers actively seek new positions where they can earn more. That means you have a lot of workers with little experience, and the directors have to constantly train new people to do their jobs. This can lead to mistakes and oversights that you wouldn’t have with happy, well-compensated workers who view the job as a viable career.
That’s just one thing to consider when looking for the best nursing homes. Look at turnover rates, experience and general morale among the staff.
Of course, neglect happens everywhere, even in the most high-paying positions. If your loved one suffers as a result, you must know what legal steps you can take.
