Federal health officials report that many nurs-ing homes are dangerously understaffed, leaving their patients at risk for injury, malnutrition, and neglect. Eight years of research by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) suggests that nursing home understaffing has led to an increasing number of patients developing life-threatening infections, dehydration, and other problems that could have been avoided.

HHS plans to recommend to Congress that new federal standards be developed to guarantee patients at least two hours of care each day from nurses aides (which 54% of nursing homes currently do not provide), and at least 12 minutes of care per day from registered nurses (which 31% do not currently provide.) Staffing levels at non-profit homes tend to be much higher than those at for-profit institutions.

But some nursing homes claim it is impossible for them to hire more quality staff members under inadequate Medicare and Medicaid subsidies. The boom time economy has also made it difficult for nursing homes to retain good workers. Nursing homes said the government should not propose minimum staffing guidelines unless it is willing to pay for that staffing through Medicare and Medicaid.