The shortage of home care workers is not new on the Outer Cape. But it used to be workable, said Provincetown Council on Aging Director Chris Hottle. Now, she said, “It’s at a critical state.” In the past, “There may have been a month’s wait,” Hottle said. “Now it can be up to a year.” Elder Services has over 2,400 people receiving home care, with 395 living in Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, or Provincetown.
Rapid on-site testing helped fend off flu outbreaks and hospitalizations at nursing homes, according to a new study. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health ran the study to learn if rapid flu testing would help nursing home residents. Researchers ran the study at 20 long-term nursing homes from 2016-2019 before the pandemic. In the participating nursing homes, residents who had at least two minor flu symptoms -- like a runny nose, congestion, sore throat, cough or fever -- would be tested.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont recently signed two important pieces of legislation that affect hospitals and certain Medicaid providers and programs. One, Public Act No. 23-29, addresses new hospital discharge obligations for state hospitals. The second, Public Act No. 23-186, implements various changes affecting the state Medicaid program and enrolled providers.
Gov. Inslee signed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1694 on May 11, and it goes into effect July 23. The bill is intended to improve the home care workforce shortage by offering solutions to long-standing barriers that do not require the same investment as traditional pathways, like education and training.
Staff at Oahu Care Facility went on strike Wednesday to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Staff at Oahu Care Facility, a Honolulu nursing home, went on strike Wednesday to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Approximately 30 union staff members represented by the Hawaii Nurses Association held signs in front of the Beretania Street facility on the first day of a planned seven-day strike after failed attempts at mediation with management.
North Carolina has struggled recently to hire and keep both healthcare workers and inspectors for nursing homes. As those staffing shortages have gotten greater, we’ve seen the amount of complaints go up 27% since 2016, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Whether it’s a doctor’s office, hospital or nursing home, there’s a huge need for trained health care workers. Officials with the NCDHHS say that’s leading to a consistent spike in complaints, ranging anywhere from lack of food to bed sores, at nursing homes.