Are Americas Nursing Homes Prepared for the Next Decade of Aging Boomers

The baby boomer generation is the largest in U.S. history and, by 2030, more than 70 million Americans will be over the age of 65. Many of them will, of course, need some form of long-term care, and for most, that means – a nursing home. However, nursing homes are already stretched too thin and they’re battling a lot of major issues, like not having enough staff, budget cuts, etc. Basically, things aren’t looking good.

Nursing homes are a safety net for seniors who can’t live on their own, but with boomers, things are a bit different than they were before, and rightfully so. They don’t want to settle for surviving, they want to live their best lives, and that means quality care and transparency. Not to mention, their families want the same, too, and they’re informed enough to know how things should be.

The true question isn’t whether America’s nursing homes can keep up, it’s whether they can even survive the coming wave at all.

The Biggest Problems for Nursing Homes Today

19% of nursing homes in New Jersey City have been deemed below average by Medicare. In Houston, 28% of facilities received a one-star rating. In Tulsa, 27% of nursing homes are rated one star. The reality is staggering.

We can go on and on with these statistics because nursing homes all across the United States are dealing with some truly serious issues, and the people who suffer the most are the ones that shouldn’t even notice them – the residents.

Here’s where most of the problems stem from.

1.   Not Enough Staff

This is one of the biggest issues. Even if all your staff is excellent and they’re willing to do their best, if there’s not enough of them, some residents simply won’t receive proper care on time.

Sadly, it’s not hard to see why people aren’t rushing to work in nursing homes. Low wages, high stress, and heavy workloads aren’t features most people will want for their jobs. A lot of staff quit their jobs because they feel overworked and underpaid.

The pandemic has made this issue even bigger because a lot of caregivers quit due to health risks and increased demands of the job.

2.   Money Problems

Somehow, it always comes down to money. The majority of funding for nursing homes comes from Medicaid and Medicare, but usually, neither of these programs cover the full cost of care. The result? Facilities struggling to stay current on all their financial obligations while trying to provide quality care.

Rising costs, like staff wages and regulatory requirements, only make an already terrible situation worse.

3.   Changing Standards

The expectations as far as nursing care goes are changing, and the facilities that don’t keep up won’t be able to stay operative.

Modern residents and their families want personalized care and advanced medical technology, so nursing homes are under a lot of pressure to meet all this. As you can imagine, this is anything but easy. All of this requires a lot of money, and if a facility is struggling with the basics, how can they finance modern technology and higher wages?

How Nursing Homes Can Adapt for the Future

More money would be a good way to start, but the challenges don’t come down to just money, although finances are a huge chunk of it.

Here are some ways the facilities can adapt to what’s coming.

1.   Improving Staff and Workforce Development

People will apply for a job that sounds attractive, so one way of addressing staff shortages would be to make this job more appealing to young professionals. For example, facilities can partner with schools, offer better pay and benefits, and create programs to attract people’s attention to a career in caregiving.

Training is important, too; an employer that will help their staff develop in a professional sense will always be a better choice than the one that will give you a dead-end job.

2.   Being Financially Stable

It’s easier said than done, but we have to start somewhere.

Facilities should demand more support from the government and better Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement rates. The programs should start reflecting the actual cost of running a nursing home.

Facilities can also find new ways to bring in money, like working with private companies, healthcare systems, or nonprofits.

3.   Embracing Innovations

With telemedicine and remote monitoring tools, residents can get medical care without going to the hospital all the time, which will cut down on costs. Holistic care is another way to improve the residents’ quality of life; art classes, exercise programs, and social events create a much more positive environment.

Conclusion

Currently, things aren’t too good. But before we start blaming nursing homes, greedy owners, and lazy staff, we should get to the bottom of the issue, which is in the system itself. Many of these underperforming nursing homes are trying their best with what they have, so arguing with the staff and blaming random administrators won’t get you anywhere.

Instead, let’s all focus on drawing attention to this problem and looking at the one entity that can actually do something about it – our government.