Stockham Law Group Logo

Practical Advice.
Experienced Representation.

3 ways understaffing affects care standards in nursing homes

On Behalf of | Feb 4, 2025 | Uncategorized

Nursing homes and other assisted living facilities promise to provide around-the-clock care for older adults. Unfortunately, the businesses running nursing homes often try to provide that support at the lowest cost possible.

Minimizing the number of workers on hand is a common way to control nursing home operation costs. Understaffing can compromise the standard of care at a facility and lead to preventable injuries for nursing home residents.

How can understaffing affect the treatment of individuals living in nursing homes?

1. By spreading workers thin

Nursing home employees may need to hand out medication. They may help residents with basic hygiene matters and may help them move through the facility safely. They may also have to address cleaning in shared spaces and resident rooms.

When workers don’t have enough support, they may prioritize certain critical functions over other responsibilities. Facilities may end up messy and unsanitary because workers simply cannot pay attention to upkeep due to the many demands on their time.

2. By causing burnout

When workers face more responsibilities than they can fulfill, they may end up rushing and feeling intensely stressed whenever they work. The constant demand of residents coupled with pressure from employers may result in workers experiencing high levels of burnout.

The emotional detachment and mental fatigue that accompany professional burnout can compromise the standard of care at a facility. Nursing home workers experiencing burnout may forget information they need to retain or may perform job tasks in a haphazard manner.

3. By limiting access to skilled support

Nursing homes typically need to have a certain number of staff members on hand. They also need to employ licensed professionals for certain crucial tasks, like the administration of controlled substances. Understaffing might mean that there aren’t enough skilled and educated workers on hand to address issues with medication or intensive care needs.

Instead, the vast majority of workers may have no formal medical training or certifications. As such, issues such as bedsores may go unnoticed, while infectious conditions like scabies could spread like wildfire because workers don’t know the warning signs and lack the training to handle such matters appropriately.

When understaffing compromises the standard of care at a nursing home, residents and their families may need to consider taking legal action. Filing a nursing home negligence lawsuit may help compensate those affected by poor care standards.