More than 9,000 health care workers in Indiana - more than 11% of the total workforce - have left the long-term care industry since the start of the pandemic, leaving nursing homes desperate for staff to care for an increasing number of patients.
Nick Goodwin, head of government affairs for the Indiana Health Care Association, which represents 85% of all nursing homes, assisted living and independent care facilities in the state, said many nursing homes are raising employee pay and bonuses in an attempt to keep good workers and retain new ones.
A look at numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a steady decline in long-term care workers in Indiana starting in March 2020, the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Indiana Health Care Association is working with legislators to add a provision to the bill that would allow continued expedited licensing in the state for nurses, doctors and other health-care workers who live out of state or are retired or recent graduates.
The Indiana Health Care Association represents about 480 nursing homes, assisted living facilities and independent living facilities in the state - about 85% of the total.
In October, the association announced the results of a poll of 295 of its members, which showed 54% are using staffing agencies to bring in workers to cover shifts and 99% are scheduling employees to work overtime and/or double shifts in order to care for patients.
Close to 32% of the facilities said they are limiting admissions because they don't have enough staff to care for more patients.
https://justthenews.com/nation/states/indiana-nursing-homes-lost-9000-workers-during-pandemic
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