The US is facing a severe nursing home staffing crisis, and it’s having dire consequences. A new study by the Pension Research Council at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business has found that sedation of elderly residents may become more widespread due to the lack of workers.
According to researchers, staffing levels have a “significant impact” on the use of antipsychotic medication. As a result, up to 24,000 additional nursing-home residents are expected to be sedated just to keep them under control. The chances of elderly parents or grandparents being subjected to such “chemical restraint” by staff is now about 10% higher than it would have been if the Biden administration’s staffing mandate had survived.
This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for improved nursing home staffing and policies to protect vulnerable populations, including the elderly.
Source: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/nursing-homes-may-start-sedating-your-elderly-parents-and-eventually-you-because-they-dont-have-enough-workers-e4c47a89