Understaffing Problems in Nursing Homes

According to recent research, a major issue in nursing homes is understaffing.

Understaffing, in fact, is so deleterious that the demands of nursing home residents in the United States in about 50% of the facilities are not fulfilled, and the facility is not maintained successfully.

Understaffing problems in nursing homes, unfortunately, as well as employees being overworked can normally lead to abuse and neglect.

A number of families turn to management at a nursing home for assistance with a family member, and have full trust in the staff to offer all the necessary care and attention.

The majority of residents require consistent care and monitoring due to suffering from a number of conditions, which include Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, et al.


The facility, unfortunately, may not be staffed adequately, as residents suffering from dementia can walk out easily from the protective confinements, and sustain injuries.

A myriad of reports from CNAs and members of nursing home staffs state that understaffing problems in nursing homes lead to a host of preventable healthcare conditions, which entail bed sores.

Recent research indicates that care reports can be falsified often due to adequate time to handle all residents properly not being possible because of understaffing.

Bed sores, in many circumstances, appear on residents at nursing homes due to the staff not having sufficient time to offer a myriad of prevention techniques, such as:

Every 2 to 3 hours, the patient should be repositioned; offer assistance in mobility to use restrooms; make certain that the nursing home remains as clean as can be, which includes offering safe and dry bedding, and basic patient hygiene; make certain the patient remains active and receives proper nutrition; make certain the patient receives mental and emotional support when necessary; regarding skin mapping in preventing pressure ulcers, make proper use, which includes filling out documents to make note of any marks or changes of what appears on the skin of the patient; and treat and recognize early the development of bed sores.

Patients can lack support with needs for mobility, because of lack of staffing in nursing homes, according to reports from CNAs.

Most nursing homes, on average, house on average 35 to 40 residents, typically with merely four, scheduled for a shift, CNAs.

Approximately half, out of that many patients, require assistance from one person to meet all necessary mobility needs, which include the use of a shower, the restaurant, or remaining active.

The patients remaining typically require assistance from two people for needs in mobility.

When there are understaffing problems in nursing homes, patients may sustain injuries due to getting dropped.

All CNAs, due to understaffing, are typically busy when a nursing home resident rings a buzzer or bell to call for aid.

When there is no instant response, in a number of cases, the resident will usually walk on his or her own to the bathroom; this can place them at risk of danger from wetting the bed, or falling.

Wetting a bed normally causes an increase in the potential of an infection or a bed sore developing, along with the emotional grief and embarrassment involved.

Contact us for a free consultation or call Anzalone Law Firm PLLC, at: 603.548.3797.