Statewide Iowa — Staffing shortages in Iowa nursing homes remain “alarmingly high” and are almost twice the national average, according to the state director of AARP Iowa.
Brad Anderson says staffing shortages can lead to poor resident care and, in some unfortunate cases, serious neglect.
One reason for the high rate of staffing shortages in Iowa is too many nursing home beds for staff to cover, he says, especially in rural areas. Anderson says he’d like to see more money devoted to home-based care instead of institutional care, as surveys show an overwhelming majority of people would rather stay in their own homes. Another problem, he says, is pay.
The state legislature recently devoted an additional $15 million in Medicaid funding to Iowa nursing homes, money Anderson says needs to be directed toward solving what he calls a “staffing crisis.” He says Iowans who are looking for a nursing home for themselves or a loved one can find plenty of data online, including where staffing is an issue.
Iowa now has 430 nursing homes. Since January of 2022, at least 21 have closed.
