Government subsidies might help more low-wage workers remain in nursing homes, according to a researcher at the University of Illinois.
In a recent group homes investigation, government backed subsidies reduced turnover rates by a third.
“We’re looking now at nursing homes, and the turnover rates for nurses’ aides are very similar to what we found for the direct services provider position at the Illinois group homes,” said investigator Elizabeth T. Powers. She notes that low-wage workers aren’t incentivized to stay in place, which tends to spike turnover rates.
“Essentially, these workers are the product these facilities are selling. If clients constantly have workers who don’t know them and their likes and dislikes helping them with their daily activities, they’re not going to perceive it as a high quality experience,” Powers said
Powers’ research was published online in the Journal of Disability Policy Studies.
