It’s a headline no one wants to see—surveillance video documented the tragic death of a 97-year-old woman outside the locked doors of a Colorado assisted living community. Sadly, residents with memory issues walk away from communities across the country nearly every day, and too many don’t survive. In the past five years alone, nearly 100 residents have died after wandering away or being left unattended, according to a Washington Post investigation. These tragedies often raise difficult questions about staffing algorithms in assisted living, and whether they are truly meeting the needs of residents.
Nationally, assisted living aides average just $15 an hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics—less than many coffee shop workers. So, how do providers recruit and retain caregivers when other industries offer higher wages? Often it isn’t just about pay—it’s about working conditions. Is your community staffing based on resident acuity and needs, or are you relying on staffing algorithms in assisted living that can miss subtle changes in condition and the nuances of individual residents? Decisions made by corporate management far removed from your residents may not reflect the reality of your community’s acuity and demographics. As one longtime caregiver shared, “Of course, care is going to suffer because I am exhausted.”
There is some good news. A 2023 J.D. Power Senior Living Satisfaction Study found that average satisfaction among families and decision-makers regarding staffing in assisted living and memory care rose by eight points from the previous year. McKnight’s Senior Living reported on accountability and safety concerns in response to the Washington Post’s findings, while another McKnight’s article highlighted Life Care Services for capturing top scores in the J.D. Power survey. These insights point to progress, but also emphasize the continuing challenges.
Recent developments show how pressing this issue has become. For example, Brookdale agreed to reforms and paid $1.9 million to settle a staffing algorithm lawsuit, underscoring how corporate decisions about staffing can have legal, financial, and care-related consequences.
At the end of the day, can you sleep at night knowing you have enough staff to provide a safe and comfortable environment, or are you lying awake hoping the phone doesn’t ring? Algorithms are no match for staffing models rooted in acuity. Conduct your own study—use ADLs or level-of-care guidelines to create a scoring system. How many residents fall into your highest care categories compared to a year ago? Don’t forget, aging in place often leads to “acuity creep,” and staffing should continuously adjust to meet those changes. This isn’t a one-time assessment—it must be ongoing, as residents’ needs can shift quickly and unexpectedly.
Stay well and stay informed!
