92% of FL Nursing Centers Facing Staffing Challenges

Over this past decade, healthcare has remained a top issue for Americans.  Now in the middle of a pandemic, 92% of Florida nursing centers are facing staffing challenges.

The vast majority of Florida nursing centers are facing significant staffing challenges that present an urgent need for investment in the long-term care workforce, according to the findings of a recent survey by the Florida Health Care Association (FHCA). The survey of the organization’s nursing home and assisted living members makes clear the centers need resources to recruit and retain staff to keep up with the demands of Florida’s growing aging population.

The July survey of 310 nursing homes and 23 assisted living facilities revealed that almost 9 in 10 FHCA member facilities said their overall workforce situation has gotten worse since 2020 (less than a year ago), and 92% are facing staffing challenges as the state contends with another surge in COVID-19 cases.

“These survey results make it clear that Florida’s long term care workforce is facing serious challenges,” said FHCA Chief Executive Officer Emmett Reed. “Our state must make significant investments in our long term care facilities so they have the resources necessary to recruit and retain the best caregivers to join the front lines. This includes making sure our facilities are properly funded so providers can offer meaningful jobs with competitive wages, and in turn enhance the overall quality of care for their residents.”

Recently, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), governor of the same state, made waves in the media for claiming that RSV is more deadly for kids than COVID.

It is safe to say that COVID-19 while attacking the lives of Americans, will also damage businesses in the long run.  Other staggering statistics were found in the same study found that 60% of FHCA members indicated that their budget cannot sustain current efforts to meet staffing needs for more than six months.