There are few people with less power — and more vulnerability to abuse and neglect — than people who live in nursing homes. Some nursing homes are loving, wonderful places. But many are places where people get ignored or worse.
President Biden is doing something about this. Not because it will get him more votes. Not because it is easy. But because it is the right thing to do.
Biden made his move last month, as CNN explained:
Biden finalized minimum staffing mandates for nursing homes
The Biden administration finalized on Monday the first-ever minimum staffing rule at nursing homes, Vice President Kamala Harris announced.
The controversial mandate requires that all nursing homes that receive Medicare and Medicaid funding provide a total of at least 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day, including defined periods from registered nurses and from nurse aides. That means a facility with 100 residents would need at least two or three registered nurses and at least 10 or 11 nurse aides. It would also need two more nurse staff members, who could be registered nurses, licensed professional nurses or nurse aides, per shift, according to a White House fact sheet.
Plus, nursing homes must have a registered nurse on site at all times. The mandate will be phased in over three years, with rural communities having up to five years. Temporary exemptions will be available for facilities in areas with workforce shortages that demonstrate a good-faith effort to hire.
In her announcement, Kamala Harris explained that the new rule aims at fairness not only to the patients in nursing homes, but also their caregivers, who too often are given too much to do in a working day.
This is about the dignity we, as a society, owe to those who care for the least of these. This is God’s work: To care for people you’ve never met before, you’re not related to. And you care for them as if they’re a member of your family. Everyone would want that for themselves or for a member of their family. Let’s recognize the gift these talented professionals give.
The White House emphasized that both both patients and caregivers need the new rules:
"When facilities are understaffed, residents may go without basic necessities like baths, trips to the bathroom and meals — and it is less safe when residents have a medical emergency," the White House said in a statement announcing the new rule. "Understaffing can also have a disproportionate impact on women and people of color who make up a large proportion of the nursing home workforce because, without sufficient support, these dedicated workers can’t provide the care they know the residents deserve."
Is there still more work to be done? 100%! Lots more work. But Biden has done so much more than many people guessed could be done. He deserves a lot of credit. AND he deserves to be re-elected.
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These posts are written by Goodnewsroundup (Goodie),
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