Modern Challenges Facing the Nursing Home Industry
- francescaqvisionfa
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
The nursing home industry fills a valuable niche in healthcare and senior care. Nursing homes are meant to provide round-the-clock care for aging adults who need more supervision and medical intervention in their daily lives. However, as the older adult population rises, the industry faces some unique challenges, causing lower-quality care, poor public perception, and increased staff turnover. These issues, among others, can prevent our older population from receiving the care and respect they need to enjoy retirement and spend time with their families. What specific challenges is the industry facing? Can they be overcome?
Workforce Shortages and Staffing Retention
Due to an increase in the number of nursing home residents nationwide, there is a higher demand for skilled caregivers. However, there just isn’t enough supply to go around, resulting in long shifts and decreased job satisfaction. These problems lead to a loss of the limited quantity of staff they do have, making it more difficult to provide quality, one-on-one care that residents deserve. Nursing homes need an appropriate staff-to-resident ratio in order to provide quality supervision, security, and healthcare. Nursing homes can combat this with better employee benefits and job satisfaction, but these remedies will often come with a loss of profits that not all companies can afford.
Increasing Costs
Inflation has increased costs in all industries, including nursing homes and senior care. Food, community construction, healthcare supplies, and toiletries have risen dramatically in price without warning. Because nursing homes cost more to run, many facilities have increased their rates or reduced employee pay. These changes can result in poor reception by both staff and patients.
Regulation Changes
Nursing home and healthcare regulations change frequently. Nursing homes may not have the resources to keep staff and communities up to date on these regulations, resulting in fines, shutdowns, and potential safety hazards. Nursing homes can employ regulation compliance managers to keep track of these frequent changes without lapses in care.
Public Perception
The public tends to associate nursing home abuse to all communities regardless of individual care quality. Issues from staff shortages increase abuse cases, further scrutinizing senior care communities. When public perception drops, so do resident numbers. Fewer residents in nursing homes can result in fewer older adults receiving the care they need due to their fear of professional communities. The public needs better education about the benefits and challenges facing the nursing home industry.
Increasing Lawsuits
When staffing problems, COVID-19, and increased operating costs affect the quality of patient care in nursing homes, it can result in increased abuse or neglect cases. Many patients understandably want compensation for their pain, suffering, and financial loss. Patients or their families will typically hire a senior abuse lawyer to seek litigation. Staffing shortages are more likely to occur in larger cities where there are larger senior populations with greater staff turnover.
Chicago
In Chicago, Illinois, senior abuse is a widespread issue, from financial exploitation to physical abuse from a family member. Nursing home abuse, including falls and fractures due to neglect, frequently lead Chicago patients to consult with a lawyer. Nursing homes in Chicago or the surrounding Illinois area need to reduce issues stemming from staff shortages and increased infections to prioritize patient care, which can significantly reduce lawsuits.
New York City
Studies from 2015 place New York City high on the list of low-quality nursing homes; it’s estimated one in five nursing home patients are mistreated. Numbers have only increased since the pandemic occurred. Senior abuse lawyers in New York City are prevalent for these reasons.
Atlanta
Unfortunately, Atlanta, Georgia’s largest city, frequently ranks at the top of the list for the worst-quality nursing homes. Attorneys often represent nursing home residents who have suffered from these quality issues. Large senior populations in Atlanta can contribute to a lapse in care quality, but nursing homes must be able to manage patient populations properly.
Pandemic Aftermath
The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the entire population, including businesses. Healthcare industries, especially nursing homes, suffered in particular. Older adults are particularly susceptible to the symptoms of COVID-19; the disease is much deadlier. While the pandemic isn’t as big of an issue for many industries anymore, COVID-19 is still a concern for businesses working with older adults or immunocompromised people. Nursing homes must continue to take extra precautions to keep patients safe by minimizing the spread of COVID-19. These additional measures can result in excess resource waste.
Advancing Technology
Thanks to technology, the healthcare industry is changing. Telemedicine, electronic health records, and other technologies require additional adjustments and training. Nursing homes must adapt to these changes, which takes up time, money, and resources. Digitalization can also cost more for both nursing home patients and companies. Nursing homes will need to add cybersecurity to their list of concerns, requiring IT intervention and resources in addition to normal operating procedures.
Conclusion
Many healthcare companies are facing challenges in modern times. Digital healthcare and technological training require increased resources and adaptation. Negative public perception of nursing homes due to staffing shortages can present a problem for individual companies and the industry as a whole. Nursing homes must take extra precautions to provide quality care and foster a positive reputation to stay successful.
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