North Carolina is among several other states facing difficulties hiring and keeping healthcare workers and inspectors for nursing homes.. This shortage has led to a 27% increase in complaints since 2016, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
The shortage of trained healthcare workers is affecting various healthcare facilities, including doctor’s offices, hospitals, and nursing homes, according to local news outlets. This has resulted to a rise in complaints – ranging from issues like lack of food to bed sores – at nursing homes.
In the state, there are about 420 nursing homes, but there are fewer than 100 inspectors to ensure that these facilities are providing proper care. Unfortunately, around 15% of inspector positions are vacant, and the turnover rate is nearly 35%, meaning more than one out of three inspectors leave their jobs within the first year.
Staffing issues were identified as a significant factor behind the increasing number of complaints, often related to an insufficient number of staff or not enough trained personnel.
In 2022, there were over 3,000 complaints and more than 9,000 allegations against nursing homes, showing a steady increase from 2016 to 2021, according to the story. Although the number of complaints and allegations in 2022 was lower than in 2021, it remained higher than in 2020 and previous years.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services is making efforts to recruit nurses, social workers, and other licensed healthcare professionals. They are reaching out to various organizations, schools, and using social media platforms like LinkedIn to inform people about these job opportunities.
Governor Roy Cooper is proposing a new state budget to address the shortage of nursing home inspectors, including adding 15 new positions and increasing salaries to attract qualified candidates. The hope is that this proposal will be approved and implemented to fill the much-needed roles.