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Ohio nursing homes struggling with low staffing
Peter Van Runkle, who runs the Ohio Health Care Association, says one way to solve the labor shortage in nursing homes is to pay more. Author: Kevin Landers Updated: 6:40 PM EDT July 6, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio Low staffing is among the top validated reasons why families complain about the state’s nursing homes.
“The top complaints we get are really indicative of staffing such as symptoms unattended, cold food, slow response to calls for help,” says Beverley Laubert, Ohio Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
The average starting salary for a state-tested nursing assistant is between $15 and $18 per hour, according to the Ohio Health Care Association which represents one thousand assisted living communities, home care and hospice service providers across the state.
The Ohio Senate's version of the proposed state budget would repeal the state's Special Focus Facility program, which provides additional oversight for troubled nursing facilities.
COVID-19 cases have dropped more than 77 percent since November among people in Ohio s long-term care facilities. Adobe Stock COLUMBUS Ohio is at the head of the pack when it comes to getting the COVID-19 vaccine into long-term care facilities.
According to state data updated Sunday, Ohio has administered the fifth-highest number of doses nationally through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention s Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program.
Peter Van Runkle, executive director for the Ohio Health Care Association, said the federal initiative is wrapping up, but there s still a need. There are new people who come into facilities all the time, Van Runkle said. There are new admissions, there are new staff members that are hired, and we need to have a mechanism for those folks to get vaccinated.