Inside the Industry
The Empty Bed Paradox: Why the New Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Will Lock Your Parent Out
Washington wants more nurses at the bedside, but the math says your family is about to lose its spot.
On an average Tuesday in April, the federal government signed off on a rule designed to make nursing homes safer. It mandates that every facility must provide at least 3.48 hours of daily care per resident, including 24/7 registered nurse coverage. It sounds like a victory for families who have spent years worrying about understaffed hallways. But if you try to place your 82-year-old mother in a local care facility next month, you are about to hit a brick wall of empty, locked rooms.
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