John Gage, President of the Rhode Island Health Care Association stated, “The devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic has been seen full force in Rhode Island nursing homes. The result of this survey quantifies what we already knew – Rhode Island nursing homes are facing the fight of their lives and the future of long-term care for Rhode Island’s most vulnerable citizens stands in the balance.”
Survey results:
There are 1,920 open positions in RI nursing homes
This is an 18.3% unemployment rate based on the 10,495 employees needed to service RI’s nursing homes.
There are 983 openings for Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s).
There are 447 openings for Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses (RN and LPN’s)
28 facilities have shut down rooms or units due to the inability to staff.
23 additional facilities have closed new admissions over the last three months.
71% of all RI facilities are now limiting the number of admissions they will accept.
Jim Nyberg, Executive Director of LeadingAge Rhode Island concluded, “Without proper funding, adequate training and available CNA testing sites in the state, the workforce challenges facing the industry will only get worse. This crisis does not only affect operators of our facilities, but their local communities as well. With staff shortages, looming fines, payment freezes, admission bans and potential closures, Rhode Island’s most frail residents will have no place to go.”