What Happens When Nursing Homes Are Understaffed?
In an ideal world, nursing homes are sanctuaries of care and comfort where our elderly loved ones can spend their golden years in peace and dignity.
However, the stark reality of nursing home understaffing, not just in California but across the country, presents a troubling challenge with wide-ranging, grave consequences. The demand for long-term care is growing, for-profit facilities are making a profit, and yet they are still deliberately understaffing their facilities to the detriment of their patients.
Causes of Nursing Home Understaffing
Facilities cite to a purported shortage of available, qualified nursing staff as the primary cause of nursing home understaffing.
Nursing home staff, on the other hand, paint a very different picture. They say that being overworked and underpaid are the primary reasons that qualified nursing staff are not attracted to nursing home positions. In fact, it is not unheard of for a certified nursing assistant who works full-time in a nursing home to need a second full-time job just to support her family.
The result is that employees in understaffed facilities are overworked trying to make up for the corporation’s failure to properly staff the facility. Staff may work overtime or for multiple shifts in a day, or they may be assigned to monitor and care for far too many residents at a time.
Nursing staff becomes overextended and burnt out. As a result, oversights occur, residents’ needs are not met, residents are not provided with necessary supervision, or, sometimes, tempers are short and nursing staff end up physically or emotionally abusing residents.
The Consequences of Understaffing in Nursing Homes
Whatever the cause, the quality of care for the elderly residents significantly diminishes in an understaffed facility. For families, understanding the impact of this staffing problem can help protect your loved one’s well-being and hold wrongdoing parties accountable.
Neglect of Needs
One of the most immediate consequences of understaffing in long-term care facilities is the neglect of its residents’ needs. When there aren’t enough nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), even the most basic requirements, such as feeding, bathing, and dressing, can be delayed or overlooked entirely.
Family members may notice their loved ones appearing unkempt, malnourished, or emotionally withdrawn, all of which can be indicators of understaffing-related neglect.
Consequences on Immobile Patients
Patients who are bedridden or unable to move without assistance are particularly vulnerable in understaffed nursing homes.
These residents require frequent repositioning to stay comfortable and avoid developing bedsores and other complications. However, with staff stretched too thin, these critical tasks may not be performed as often as needed. Unfortunately, when this happens, bedsores can quickly escalate into severe infection, leading to pain, suffering, and even life-threatening conditions.
Increased Risk of Falls and Other Incidents
Falls are a leading cause of injury among elderly individuals, and understaffed nursing homes are particularly prone to such incidents. With fewer caregivers available, supervision and assistance will suffer. Residents may attempt to move around on their own without proper support, resulting in falls that can cause fractures, head injuries, and other serious harm.
When falls do occur, response times can also be slower in an understaffed facility. This compromises the ability to provide immediate attention and care, often worsening the outcome for the affected resident.
Misdiagnoses and Medication Errors
With limited time and overwhelming workloads, nurses may rush through tasks, sacrificing the accuracy of diagnoses and medication management. A resident might be given the wrong medication or an incorrect dosage or may miss a dose altogether.
Overtaxed nursing home staff may also overlook or misinterpret symptoms of severe medical conditions. These errors can have life-threatening consequences, particularly for elderly residents who may already have multiple health issues.
Nursing Home Abuse
One deeply concerning outcome of understaffing is an increased incidence of elder abuse in nursing homes.
When nurses and CNAs are overwhelmed and stressed, their ability to provide compassionate care may diminish. This can lead to frustration and, in some cases, abusive behavior. This abuse can be intentional or not and take many forms, such as physical, emotional, or even financial.
What’s even more disturbing is that abuse in these settings is often referred to as a silent epidemic, as it can go unnoticed unless families and advocates are vigilant and able to recognize the warning signs.
You Can Do Something To Protect Your Elderly Loved One
Understaffing in long-term care facilities remains a systemic problem that inflicts unnecessary pain and suffering on our seniors. If you believe your elderly loved one is affected by staff shortage in their nursing home, you can be the voice they need when they’re afraid or unable to speak up for themselves.
It’s never easy to come to the realization that your loved one may have been neglected or abused due to understaffing, but support is available. Working with the nursing home abuse lawyers at Holm Law Group can help you get on the pathway to justice and compensation.
No one should have to endure the consequences of nursing home understaffing in silence. Get in touch today for a free case evaluation. We’re ready to help you take a stand and secure the compensation your loved one deserves.