Nursing homes
$2 million national study will examine how nursing homes use agency staff
Researchers with a $2 million National Institute on Aging grant will study how nursing homes use temporary agency workers today, including on weekends, holidays and particular shifts, and how that affects care.
Key facts
- McKnight's Long-Term Care News reported on October 13 that researchers awarded a $2 million grant from the National Institute on Aging will study how nursing homes use agency staff today and how that affects quality of care.
- The team includes Huiwen Xu of Emory University's nursing school and John Bowblis, an economics professor at Miami University.
- Agency use rose sharply during the pandemic and declined afterward, but remains above pre-pandemic levels, and many nursing homes use some agency support almost daily, Bowblis said.
What happened
McKnight's Long-Term Care News reported on October 13 that researchers awarded a $2 million grant from the National Institute on Aging will study how nursing homes use agency staff today and how that affects quality of care. The team includes Huiwen Xu of Emory University's nursing school and John Bowblis, an economics professor at Miami University.
Agency use rose sharply during the pandemic and declined afterward, but remains above pre-pandemic levels, and many nursing homes use some agency support almost daily, Bowblis said. Researchers want to know whether homes depend more on agency staff during weekends, holidays or particular shifts, and how patterns differ by staff type.
What it means for families
Agency staff fill gaps, but they may not know your relative's routines. Families can ask how often agency workers are on the unit and how they learn each resident's care plan.
For example: if your father has trouble swallowing and needs his food cut a certain way, ask how a weekend agency aide would know that before serving his meal.
Agency staff can be skilled and caring; the concern researchers raise is continuity. Residents with dementia in particular may do better with familiar faces.
What this means in New York: the same questions apply to New York nursing homes, many of which also use agency staff.
Quick answers
What will the agency staffing study look at?
Agency use rose sharply during the pandemic and declined afterward, but remains above pre-pandemic levels, and many nursing homes use some agency support almost daily, Bowblis said. Researchers want to know whether homes depend more on agency staff during weekends, holidays or particular shifts, and how patterns differ by staff type.
What to do this week
- Ask your relative's nursing home how often agency staff work on their unit, especially weekends.
- Ask how agency staff are briefed on each resident's needs before a shift.
- Share a short written list of your relative's key needs with the nurse manager.
- Ask whether the same aides usually work with your relative from week to week.
Sources
More from Nursing homes
- Senate Democrats' report calls for nursing home ownership transparency and stronger oversight
- Nursing homes have cut use of agency staff by 44% since 2022, research firm says
- Medicare confirms daily therapy alone can qualify a nursing facility stay