Improve Standards of Long-Term Care Facilities Across America
Improve Standards of Long-Term Care Facilities Across America
The Issue
As someone who has experienced working in long-term care facilities amidst the severe Covid situation, I've witnessed firsthand the dire need to address the quality of our facilities. Our country faces a national crisis for healthcare workers, yet few are attracted to careers in long-term care facilities. We need to critically question why so many people don't want their loved ones in these facilities. Shockingly, the Health Services Insights reports that 33% of the nursing home population struggle with some form of depression. This is alarming and unacceptable.
Our facilities ought to promise and deliver the utmost level of living, dignity, nutrition, activities, and care. However, reality paints a different image. We cannot ignore the fact that our facilities are failing a sizable number of their residents. Industries continue to face severe shortages of well-trained staff despite having more than 1.3 million elderly people in retirement facilities according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This is not conducive to cultivating a nurturing, respectful environment for our elders.
Some statics show that $7/day per resident for 3 meals/day. Residents have to share rooms while in the facility. They have a bed, dresser, lamp, phone, tv, a chair, a curtain diving the room in half, and shared bathroom. There is no dignity or privacy for resident or family. A lot of times residents have to bear witness to their roommate passing, sometime multiple roommates passing away
It's time for America to scrutinize its long-term care facilities and incentivize people to choose healthcare professions. We need to delve deep into the unappealing aspects of these facilities and figure out how to remedy them. From enhancing the quality of care, improving the nutritional standards to fostering active, purposeful lives for residents, we need systemic changes. Let's rectify this, ensure the well-being of millions while we restore faith in our healthcare system. Please sign this petition to urge our legislators to put the crisis of long-term care facilities at the forefront of their agenda.
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The Issue
As someone who has experienced working in long-term care facilities amidst the severe Covid situation, I've witnessed firsthand the dire need to address the quality of our facilities. Our country faces a national crisis for healthcare workers, yet few are attracted to careers in long-term care facilities. We need to critically question why so many people don't want their loved ones in these facilities. Shockingly, the Health Services Insights reports that 33% of the nursing home population struggle with some form of depression. This is alarming and unacceptable.
Our facilities ought to promise and deliver the utmost level of living, dignity, nutrition, activities, and care. However, reality paints a different image. We cannot ignore the fact that our facilities are failing a sizable number of their residents. Industries continue to face severe shortages of well-trained staff despite having more than 1.3 million elderly people in retirement facilities according to the National Center for Health Statistics. This is not conducive to cultivating a nurturing, respectful environment for our elders.
Some statics show that $7/day per resident for 3 meals/day. Residents have to share rooms while in the facility. They have a bed, dresser, lamp, phone, tv, a chair, a curtain diving the room in half, and shared bathroom. There is no dignity or privacy for resident or family. A lot of times residents have to bear witness to their roommate passing, sometime multiple roommates passing away
It's time for America to scrutinize its long-term care facilities and incentivize people to choose healthcare professions. We need to delve deep into the unappealing aspects of these facilities and figure out how to remedy them. From enhancing the quality of care, improving the nutritional standards to fostering active, purposeful lives for residents, we need systemic changes. Let's rectify this, ensure the well-being of millions while we restore faith in our healthcare system. Please sign this petition to urge our legislators to put the crisis of long-term care facilities at the forefront of their agenda.
12
The Decision Makers
Petition created on March 30, 2025