As we have discussed before, the number of Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes has brought to light the ongoing crisis in how we care for our ailing seniors. In short, the problem is that we've always been trying to do so on the cheap through the Medicaid (MassHealth in Massachusetts) program. As a result, caregivers in nursing homes are underpaid and most facilities are understaffed.
Low Pay Affects Quality of Care
A recent report, which is summarized in The New York Times, describes how the low pay and stress leads to turnover of nursing home staff. That turnover affects care both because it means that most caregivers are inexperienced and they and the nursing home residents don't know one another. This can be especially confusing for those residents who suffer from dementia.
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