Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia met with nursing home administrators across the state this week for a round-table discussion. The administrators shared similar experiences, and their biggest challenge during the pandemic is finding and keeping enough staff to care for their vulnerable residents.
The nursing home executives told Governor Kemp that they are in need of more help at a time when they are facing higher costs and struggle daily to find enough staff for their facilities. The administrators thanked Governor Kemp for sending workers to more than 160 facilities across the state that were in need of help and for authorizing $78 million in the federal CARES Act to help pay for staff testing.
As of November 30, 2020, 9,433 individuals who work in Georgia’s nursing homes, assisted living, and large personal care homes have tested positive for COVID-19. More than 17, 363 long-term care residents have tested positive since the start of the pandemic, and at least 2, 916 have died.
The nursing home administrators shared with the Governor that many veteran workers were quitting because they were concerned about the risks of infection. One of the administrators shared the following: “ There is fatigue with our staff right now…They have worked extra shifts, and they have done things above and beyond what any reasonable person has asked them to do, and they have done it willingly, and they have done it at personal sacrifice.” The Governor did acknowledge the strain that the nursing homes have been under.
Issue
Staffing continues to be a major challenge for nursing homes across the country. While the pandemic continues, it has caused fatigue to the workers in nursing homes. Emergency preparedness should include reviewing your staffing levels and creating a plan for alternate staffing should the pandemic cause a staffing crisis in your facility.
Discussion
- Review policies and procedures for ensuring sufficient numbers of staff and the continuing effectiveness of the facility’s Infection and Prevention Control Program. Review policies and procedures for emergency preparedness. Include plans for reassignment of non-clinical tasks to properly trained volunteers as an emergency measure.
- Train staff on being diligent in following the facility’s Infection Prevention and Control Program. Document that training has occurred, and place proof of attendance in the employees’ education files.
- Periodically audit staff performance to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control Protocols are being followed by all. Provide additional oversight and education where deemed necessary.
