Despite the fact that nursing homes cannot run without nurses and other caregivers, many nursing homes continuously face staff shortages. Operations that run on a “shoestring” and keep a skeleton crew overnight and on weekends can leave vulnerable residents in danger.
Nursing home staff shortages can happen because of lower salaries, fewer worker benefits, an increasing gap between the number of workers and residents, fewer educational opportunities and increasing licensing requirements. These shortages can ultimately endanger elderly nursing home residents.
The risk of understaffed nursing homes and overworked nurses
Many problems can happen when a nursing home is understaffed. Residents may lack supervision when there are not enough nursing home staff. For example, caregivers may not be responsive enough to a resident who needs to move out of bed. As a result, the resident may fall and suffer serious injuries when they try to walk on their own.
It is not just understaffing that can endanger elderly residents. Many nurses and aides are overworked because no one is available to cover their shifts or lighten their workload. Overworked nurses and aides may be less responsive to a resident’s needs because they do not have the time or energy for every resident. Charting errors, too, can happen because a nurse or aide is rushed, and that can lead to compounded mistakes.
Nursing homes can fail to care for loved ones. If a loved one was injured at a nursing home due to understaffing, it is wise to learn about your legal options to protect your loved one’s rights.
