The number of Californians age 65 and older is projected to double in the next decade. Many of the facilities slated to provide long term care for these individuals already operate with deficits in nurse staffing levels and operating budgets. Low staffing and high turnover among low-wage personnel contribute to poor quality of care.

Serious problems include:

• One-third of freestanding nursing homes did not meet the state’s minimum nurse staffing standards.
• Many show signs of poor care, including: a high percentage of residents who lose weight, are left in bed all or most of the time, or are placed in physical restraints.
• Most do not comply with federal regulations for care and safety.

The Snapshot also provides information on:

• Nursing hours per resident, per day;
• Staff turnover rates;
• Rates of violation of federal and state regulations;
• Complaints filed;
• Comparative performance between for-profit and nonprofit nursing homes;
• Bed occupancy and vacancy rates;
• Nursing home resident demographics, including length of stay; and
• Sources of payment and the industry’s financial status.

The complete snapshot can be found under Document Downloads below.