AARP releases the first-ever comprehensive snapshot of nursing-home staffing in Florida

(The following statement is from AARP Florida’s state director, Jeff Johnson. For the full report, visit aarp.org/fl.) “As we look closely at the history of Florida nursing-home staffing-standards over the last two decades, it’s clear that legislative changes have eroded Florida’s approach to care in nursing-homes. “Florida-families deserve peace-of-mind that those in nursing-homes receive the high-quality care [that] they need. So, ‘A-A-R-P’ has committed to be a watchdog on this issue. This first-of-its-kind report is a starting point for a much-larger conversation—about what Florida must do to provide superior care to our increasing population of elders with rising levels of need. “Developed in collaboration with Doctor Lindsay Peterson—an award-winning, respected voice on long-term care and aging-studies—‘A-A-R-P Florida’ hopes that this snapshot will serve as a resource to legislative decision-makers and elected-officials. The best decisions are informed by high-quality research: This compilation of peer-reviewed studies illustrates the history, significant policy-changes, past challenges, and current landscape of staffing Florida’s long-term-care system. “As Florida’s long-term-care system and its residents adjust to the recent changes—which have watered down nursing-care—we must be prepared to examine what these changes have done, and will do, to the critical relationship between staffing-levels and quality care. Only in doing this can we determine what’s coming next—and take a thought-leadership role in shaping this system, for generations of older adults to come.”