The Commonwealth of Virginia does not mandate safe Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to Resident ratios in nursing homes. Current regulations state that facilities are to have “staff sufficient to provide care to achieve highest degree of function”. This is very subjective and impractical to enforce as there is no way it can truly be measured.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, under staffing is the most frequent cited complaint filed by Virginia’s State Long Term Care Ombudsman.  It is becoming a normal occurrence for nursing homes to staff only 1 CNA to 15 residents, and in some cases up to 30 residents. These ratios prevent CNAs from providing adequate care, and also compromise the safety and well-being of the residents. CNAs make up a significant portion of the workforce in a nursing home and play an integral role in meeting resident’s daily needs including; bathing, dressing, eating, walking, and repositioning to prevent pressure ulcers. CNAs are frequently referred to as the nurse’s “eyes and ears”. This is because they provide the most direct hands on care, often being the first to notice subtle changes. Mandating safe CNA to resident ratios will improve the quality of life for the elderly who are living in these facilities and can help to reduce the poor outcomes that are associated with these dangerously low staffing levels. This includes helping to reduce falls resulting in fractures, pressure ulcers, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and unnecessary hospitalizations.  Please be the change you want to see and sign my petition to let Terry McAuliffe and the Commonwealth Of Virginia know that it is time to mandate safe CNA to resident ratios in Long Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities.