Shortage of Nursing Home workers

[Anonymous]

I quit my job to take care of my elderly mom (86 year old with Alzheimer). She lives with us. I would like to place her in a memory care unit, but the prices are just exhorbitant. The Biden Administration is trying to pass (or already passed) new regulations which will require nursing homes to increase the number of nurses and nurse aids. There is already a shortage of these professionals. Not sure where they would find enough to fill these positions

Now, here is my idea, could caregivers, like myself, be trained to be nurse’s aids, be paid a nominal amount, and in return, the facilities could take in our loved ones for free/very reduced rate? The caregivers should have to commit to working for three - four years. I am sure there would be some issues, but could this be a possible solution?

[Anonymous]

No, because you have no idea how hard the job is and most could not afford that.

For what nursing homes charge they simply need to pay more.

[Anonymous]

Some states do pay for caregivers.

I think they need a foreign workers program for nursing care.

[Anonymous]

They could do that, but the work is very manual and hard.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the work is very manual and hard, but it would only be for 8 hrs a day, 5 days a week and not 24/7.

[Anonymous]

I saw an article recently about how many of the care facilities are for-profit and run by only a few huge companies. They're using algorithms to determine how much staff to hire for each location, and the algorithm is short-staffing the facilities.

This is just one more thing that should not be for-profit, but government-run facilities would probably be just as bad or worse (ugh, imagine contracting elder care), so here we are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw an article recently about how many of the care facilities are for-profit and run by only a few huge companies. They're using algorithms to determine how much staff to hire for each location, and the algorithm is short-staffing the facilities.

This is just one more thing that should not be for-profit, but government-run facilities would probably be just as bad or worse (ugh, imagine contracting elder care), so here we are.

Was this the article?

Assisted living managers say an algorithm prevented hiring enough staff: The nation’s largest assisted-living chain uses a staffing algorithm; some managers say they quit or were fired after they complained it left facilities dangerously short-handed

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/04/01/assisted-living-algorithm-staffing-lawsuits-brookdale/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I quit my job to take care of my elderly mom (86 year old with Alzheimer). She lives with us. I would like to place her in a memory care unit, but the prices are just exhorbitant. The Biden Administration is trying to pass (or already passed) new regulations which will require nursing homes to increase the number of nurses and nurse aids. There is already a shortage of these professionals. Not sure where they would find enough to fill these positions

Now, here is my idea, could caregivers, like myself, be trained to be nurse’s aids, be paid a nominal amount, and in return, the facilities could take in our loved ones for free/very reduced rate? The caregivers should have to commit to working for three - four years. I am sure there would be some issues, but could this be a possible solution?

What? Like you'd work there full time for a few years even after your mother passed?

I think you have no idea how hard the job is. It's way worse than you think, pays terrible, and that's why there's a shortage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some states do pay for caregivers.

I think they need a foreign workers program for nursing care.

This. In some jurisdictions, I believe DC is one, family members can get some payment as at home caregivers. That doesn't help OP re: wanting to put her mom in memory care though.

Many foreign workers DO fill these positions, in FL for example, there are many caregivers, and nurses from Jamaica, Haiti and the Philippines.

OP, I think you will have to look into Medicare facilities and educate yourself re: spend down. Consulting an elder care lawyer is wise. If you have kids, there may begin to be safety issues re: Alzheimer's, imo experience rage, elopement, starting fires, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I saw an article recently about how many of the care facilities are for-profit and run by only a few huge companies. They're using algorithms to determine how much staff to hire for each location, and the algorithm is short-staffing the facilities.

This is just one more thing that should not be for-profit, but government-run facilities would probably be just as bad or worse (ugh, imagine contracting elder care), so here we are.

This plus they pay poorly for this work.

Caregivers in these places are typically making less than $20/hr.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some states do pay for caregivers.

I think they need a foreign workers program for nursing care.

This ^^.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some states do pay for caregivers.

I think they need a foreign workers program for nursing care.

This. In some jurisdictions, I believe DC is one, family members can get some payment as at home caregivers. That doesn't help OP re: wanting to put her mom in memory care though.

Many foreign workers DO fill these positions, in FL for example, there are many caregivers, and nurses from Jamaica, Haiti and the Philippines.

OP, I think you will have to look into Medicare facilities and educate yourself re: spend down. Consulting an elder care lawyer is wise. If you have kids, there may begin to be safety issues re: Alzheimer's, imo experience rage, elopement, starting fires, etc.

+1 re: who takes these jobs.
The US grants visas to certain countries specifically for these jobs.
And unfortunately in many of these communities, though the caregivers understand and communicate in English, their very thick accents make it extremely difficult for the elderly American English-speaking-only population of clients to understand—and this adds to frustration of both the client and caregiver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some states do pay for caregivers.

I think they need a foreign workers program for nursing care.

This. In some jurisdictions, I believe DC is one, family members can get some payment as at home caregivers. That doesn't help OP re: wanting to put her mom in memory care though.

Many foreign workers DO fill these positions, in FL for example, there are many caregivers, and nurses from Jamaica, Haiti and the Philippines.

OP, I think you will have to look into Medicare facilities and educate yourself re: spend down. Consulting an elder care lawyer is wise. If you have kids, there may begin to be safety issues re: Alzheimer's, imo experience rage, elopement, starting fires, etc.

Medicaid?