Wisconsin nursing home and assisted living providers continue to endure a workforce shortage crisis, according to a new report produced by a coalition of provider associations including the Wisconsin Health Care Association/Wisconsin Center for Assisted Living, LeadingAge Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association, and the Disability Service Provider Network.
A report released this month surveyed 924 providers. Along with information from other sources, the survey revealed:
- An increase in caregiver vacancies from 19 percent in 20181 to 23.5 percent in 2020;
- A continued downward trend in the number of persons on the Wisconsin nurse aide registry;
- Caregiver vacancy rates in excess of 30 percent for adult family homes, a vital part of the long-term care continuum. One in three providers are limiting admissions due to caregiver vacancies;
- Since 2018, inflation has increased by 4 percent, while median wages for direct care workers have been limited to only 2.3 percent growth; and
- The average occupancy of long-term and residential care providers could increase from 78 percent to 93 percent if there were enough caregivers to fill available positions.
Long-term care providers continue to be challenged with a lack of applicants for caregiving positions. According to the report, the caregiver workforce crisis continues to be one of the most significant challenges facing providers of long-term and residential care services as the state faces growth in the number of older persons, people with intellectual and physical disabilities, and individuals diagnosed with dementia.
