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New Law Compromised Care of Nursing Home Residents

Why You Should Be Worried and Questions Families Should Ask About Long-Term Care

Background: Last year, Governor DeSantis declared a state of emergency in response to challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Meant as a temporary solution, the order allowed nursing homes to bring on personnel with minimal nursing education and training to augment staff in caring for residents. During the 2021 Legislative Session, House Bill 485 made this solution permanent.

Nurse during home visit with senior man
vm/Getty Images

The implications: To help fill some gaps in nursing-to-resident ratio needs, the new law relating to personal care attendants (PCAs) permits people with 16 hours of training to support to nursing home residents on activities of daily living. While PCAs are prohibited from clinical tasks performed by Certified Nursing Assistants, who receive 120 hours of classroom and supervised clinical training, this new law effectively reduces the quality of care to residents in favor of cheaper PCA labor.

Nursing-to-resident ratios are critical to ensure patient well-being where regular ongoing interactions can better address a resident’s overall medical needs. With an ongoing pandemic, these considerations take on increased importance when nurses become ill with coronavirus, and PCAs can’t medically fill gaps in care.

With the rise of the delta variant and the newly issued federal vaccine mandate for nursing home staff, many of the systemic issues plaguing Florida nursing homes remain unresolved. To ensure loved ones in nursing homes are receiving the quality of care they need, families and caregivers should know what questions to ask of nursing home administrators. To help answer your questions, join our free webinar on Sept. 8, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. ET for a conversation with Jeff Johnson, state director of AARP Florida, and Michael Phillips, Florida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman.

  • AARP FL Advocacy Insight: Questions to Ask About Long-Term Care: Join us for an engaging discussion designed for families with loved ones in long-term care – or considering long-term care in Florida. We will discuss what you need to know about recent legislation regarding Personal Care Attendants and educate families about the key questions they should ask long-term care facilities to ensure their loved ones' needs are being met.

Click here to register for this free event.

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