AARP reveals new data showing staffing, PPE shortages at Iowa long-term care facilities
DES MOINES, Iowa — A lack of staff and PPE are major concerns in Iowa's nursing homes as cases continue to climb across the state.
According to new analysis by the AARP and data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, major improvements need to be made to save lives.
“Nine months since COVID-19 entered nursing homes, cases are rising again, and facilities still don’t have the PPE and staffing needed to protect residents,” said AARP State Director Brad Anderson. “This is a tragedy that must be addressed. Our state leaders need to act to keep residents safe by finally creating a public plan to address Iowa’s nursing home crisis, starting with staffing.”
On Monday, the AARP renewed calls for better protections for nursing home residents and staff from Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa legislators.
The AARP Public Policy Institute is compiling data and tracking information which is self-reported by nursing homes across the country. The non-profit says its working with the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University in Ohio, to create the AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard. That research shows areas of concern from Sept. 21-Oct. 18:
42.8% of nursing homes with staffing shortages, up from 39.6%
5.3 staff COVID-19 cases per 100 residents, up from 3.7
38.1% of nursing homes without a 1-week supply of PPE, down from 42.6%, but still worse than national average and troublingly high
4.8 COVID-19 cases per 100 residents, up from 2.1 in the previous four-week period
0.7 COVID-19 deaths per 100 residents, up from .41
The AARP is calling for changes from state leaders in Iowa in these areas:
Develop a plan to address Iowa’s nursing home staffing shortage;
Create a central database of direct care workers by expanding Iowa’s existing nurse aide registry
Deploy the Iowa National Guard to nursing homes and assisted living centers to assist with staffing needs like point of contact testing.
