Here & Now

Wisconsin Struggles to Fill Nursing Home Positions

Frederica Freyberg:

And now we go to health care. As Wisconsins unemployment rate stays at record lows, nursing home facilities are struggling to find people to care for elderly residents. A report released by the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association and other organizations says one in five caregiver positions are not being filled. But why? Multimedia journalist Marisa Wojcik brings us these fast facts about the status of elderly nursing care in Wisconsin.

Marisa Wojcik:

A $9 billion industry in Wisconsin is experiencing a workforce crisis. Skilled nursing facilities are losing caregivers at a rapid rate. According to a recent report, there are more than 16,000 vacant positions in Wisconsins residential and long-term care facilities. And those who are caregivers are getting burnt out, as providers resort to overtime, double shifts and other measures in order to fill the need. Two-thirds of Wisconsins long-term care residents are on Medicaid and because of this, providers can’t offer competitive wages for nursing aides. Wisconsin has the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rate in the country. And this often translates to the average care facility in the state losing roughly a million dollars a year. Over the last few years, 16 nursing facilities in Wisconsin have been shuttered. And more have announced plans to close. The Wisconsin Health Care Association says there have been some efforts by the state legislature to increase Medicaid reimbursement. But they need to go further. A coalition of organizations in the state are looking to fill this need with a $2.3 million federal grant awarded to the Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services for programming to give certified nursing assistants training at no cost. For these and other fast facts, visit wpt.org.