Why don't they change LTC facilities?

[wish_me_luck, BSN, RN]

I wanna know. I hear terrible stuff about them like understaffed, can't provide good care for the patients, forced to falsify charting/documents, etc. So, why can't they change all that and get adequate staffing, etc?

[OnlybyHisgraceRN, ASN, RN]

I left LTC for the EXACT reasons you mentioned above. I hated that we were constantly understaffed. I hated that these residents did not get good care. Not all LTC facilities are like this as I've worked for a pretty decent one before but most of them all. Nothing will ever change it. All they care about is saving a dollar....

[Altra, BSN, RN]

I wanna know. I hear terrible stuff about them like understaffed, can't provide good care for the patients, forced to falsify charting/documents, etc. So, why can't they change all that and get adequate staffing, etc?

Who is/are "they", and how will the changes you would propose be funded?

Medicare beneficiaries (those over age 65 and those who receive Medicare benefits due to chronic complex illness/disability status) are entitled to roughly 100 days of LTC care per year. (LTC nurses and case managers here at AN can provide much better detail than I can) Most people do not have the financial resources set aside to cover the cost of LTC at rates which can easily exceed $200/day.

Why so "expensive"? Well, let's start with everything you would want to see in an LTC. A well-designed building with nice grounds. Maintenance on that nice building. Proper licensing from local municipalities and the state health department. Qualified staff in sufficient ratios that you deem necessary to provide acceptable care. Compensation sufficient to attract high-quality staff and keep turnover low. Supplies in sufficient quantities. And all those amenities you feel the residents should have.

How do you provide those things, and yes make a profit for the business, at rates the public is willing/able to pay?

[DSkelton711]

LTCs depend on payments from Medicare and Medicaid unless the patient is private pay. In other words, the government is highly involved. TONS of paperwork making it top heavy in staff to do paperwork, leaving less to go towards those that do the actual bedside care. When's the last time you seen the government do anything the right way?

[Not_A_Hat_Person, RN]

Why? Because quality care requires money.

[MN-Nurse, ASN, RN]

I wanna know. I hear terrible stuff about them like understaffed, can't provide good care for the patients, forced to falsify charting/documents, etc. So, why can't they change all that and get adequate staffing, etc?

Because the people in these facilities generally can not afford to pay for their care - and the rest of us are refusing to pay for it.