Nursing home staffing and training recommendations for promoting older adults' quality of care and life: Part 1. Deficits in the quality of care due to understaffing and undertraining.
Caught between the inability or unwillingness of nursing home corporations and owners to redistribute revenue and the reluctance of federal and state agencies to increase payments to nursing homes, the nation's most vulnerable older adults are not receiving the care they deserve. Widespread recognition of substandard care and quality of life of older adults in nursing homes has existed for decades. In addition, there is substantial evidence that poor quality of care is related to inadequate numbers and training of nursing staff. Still, policy makers and nursing home owners have failed to take needed action. In the first article of this two-part series, major deficits in the care of older adult nursing home residents are reviewed, and research documenting the relationship between nursing home staffing and the quality of care and life of residents is summarized.
Maas
Meridean L
ML
The John A. Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, The University of Iowa College of Nursing, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. meridean-maas@uiowa.edu
Specht
Janet P
JP
Buckwalter
Kathleen C
KC
Gittler
Josephine
J
Bechen
Kate
K
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000517:prevention & control; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D004552:Elder Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000517:prevention & control; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000517:prevention & control; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000009:adverse effects; D012934:Social Isolation; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000517:prevention & control