Staffing Shortages Crippling RI Nursing Home Industry, Say Advocacy Organizations
GoLocalProv News Team
Staffing Shortages Crippling RI Nursing Home Industry, Say Advocacy Organizations
“The devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic has been seen full force in Rhode Island nursing homes," said John Gage, President of the Rhode Island Health Care Association. "The result of this survey quantifies what we already knew – Rhode Island nursing homes are facing the fight of their lives and the future of long-term care for Rhode Island’s most vulnerable citizens stands in the balance.”
The groups represent Rhode Island’s 77 nursing homes.
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According to the groups:
- There are 1,920 open positions in RI nursing homes
- This is an 18.3% unemployment rate based on the 10,495 employees needed to service RI’s nursing homes.
- There are 983 openings for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s).
- There are 447 openings for Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses (RN and LPN’s)
- 28 facilities have shut down rooms or units due to the inability to staff.
- 23 additional facilities have closed new admissions over the last three months.
- 71% of all RI facilities are now limiting the number of admissions they will accept.
“Without proper funding, adequate training and available CNA testing sites in the state, the workforce challenges facing the industry will only get worse," said Jim Nyberg, Executive Director of LeadingAge Rhode Island.
"This crisis does not only affect operators of our facilities, but their local communities as well. With staff shortages, looming fines, payment freezes, admission bans and potential closures, Rhode Island’s most frail residents will have no place to go," he added.