There are numerous questions ranging about whether nursing homes should increase or downsize their employee count. With more and more people living longer, you would expect nursing homes to increase their load. However, today’s nursing homes are moving opposite: cutting beds. Their effort to downsize stems from changes in resident expectations and the need to ensure their operations remain fluid.
As an insurance agent, focus on providing appropriate Nursing Home risk management and helping clients understand the current trends and needs. Like any business, profit matters. Discuss how to evaluate their status and make changes that improve service and overhead costs.
What Is the Future of Nursing Homes?
Bigger no longer means better. Instead, nursing homes face a demand for larger rooms, additional options for assisted living, and steady, reliable staffing. Additionally, these factors remain challenging for many reasons and indicate an interest in concentrating on fewer rooms and patients.
According to the American Association of Retired Persons, AARP, nursing homes have lost as many as 235,00 employees since 2020. Also, organizations continue to operate with insufficient staff and strive to find replacements during a time when employment struggles continue. This shortage begs the question: is it better to have more residents or maintain high-quality healthcare?
Previously, families placed frail or aging members within homes, accepting nursing rooms. Times have changed, and many now look to other options, choosing care programs or seeking independent living. They want a place to go with space and activities and don’t want to give up their freedom.
Which Direction Should Nursing Homes Go in the Future?
Embrace smaller facilities focused on quality attention and care. Above all, put the patient first. Families and residents want places to do more than tend to people. They want devotion, safety, and above-average medical care. Staff should have time to work with residents, listen to their concerns, and talk to family and friends who have questions. Fewer people allow for more specialized supervision.
Employee shortages and higher numbers make it hard to stay within compliance. Many states are currently overhauling legislation for nursing homes. It’s crucial now to alleviate anything keeping organizations from meeting government expectations. The less is more approach allows for this.
It’s a competitive world. Thus, many organizations cannot change their overhead expenses. Because those numbers stay the same, nursing homes should establish an atmosphere worth a higher price. With fewer rooms, facilities can focus on providing an enhanced experience, boosting space and aesthetics.
Establish a positive culture for staff and residents. Then, downsizing allows people to connect and reduce stress. These changes may encourage retention rates, avoiding turnover and shortages.
Nursing homes are experiencing changes and facing difficult decisions. When you meet with clients, listen to their concerns and discuss Nursing Home risk management programs that can help them with their needs. Talk about the benefits of downsizing and how it could prove helpful to residents and staff.
