Practical tips to tackle the top 3 challenges faced by staffing-strapped facilities during our mock surveys.
A recent study by The American Health Care Association found that up to 94% of nursing homes face staff shortages. FTag 725 mandates that facilities must provide services with a sufficient number of licensed nurses (RNs and LPNs) and other personnel, including aides, available 24/7 to deliver care according to residents' care plans. Administrators understand that the term 'sufficient' extends beyond the clinical team, as staffing shortages affect all departments and all shifts, not just nursing.
It's no secret that long-term care is facing a staffing crisis, and past interventions that once worked are no longer effective or available. Providers are now challenged to think more strategically about how to do more with less, focusing on preventing staff burnout while still delivering high-quality resident care.
Mock surveys conducted by Polaris Consultants in 2025 have identified three key areas where staffing-challenged facilities struggle. We provide practical suggestions to address each of these issues. These action steps aren't limited to managers but can be delegated across different disciplines throughout the week or month.
Timely medical care.
- Consistently hold morning clinical meetings to address what happened in the past 24 hours and assign tasks to those in attendance. Hold people accountable.
- Consider scheduling an afternoon meeting to discuss what was accomplished and what tasks are still outstanding.
- Polaris consultants have examples of Morning Meeting Templates.
Proper hygiene.
- Nothing beats the effectiveness of walking rounds to see with your eyes what your residents look like. Greasy hair, jagged fingernails, excessive facial hair, proper fitting clothing, and proper positioning are easily identified by walking around, especially in the dining room at mealtimes.
- Develop a Facility Rounds tool for all managers to complete routinely to ensure the team is engaged in the process of addressing hygiene issues.
- Polaris consultants have examples of Facility Grand Rounds tools.
Hydration.
- Make note of the process of fresh water passes, ensuring cups are within residents' reach; and notice the number of fluids offered at meals. One recently completed a mock survey showed no one had milk for meals because “so many residents don’t drink it.”
- How does your facility record and communicate residents’ fluid intake?
- What is your number of facility-acquired UTIs? Ask yourself: Is keeping my residents hydrated a priority that is shared by all staff?
- Set up hydration stations and opportunities for the Activities Department to offer beverages associated with scheduled activities. Is there a beverage cart routinely scheduled? Do you offer a “Happy Hour” during the week?
Polaris consultants have an arsenal of tools that support facility-wide efforts for hydration care, including in-services and tips for staff member involvement. For further information regarding the tools available, or an interest in scheduling a mock survey, please contact us!
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