Nursing Homes Forced To Cut Employees

Robyn Dixon lost her job at the Golden Years Nursing Center on November 1.

"(It's) unfortunate. The patients need us, and if we're let go then who are they going to rely on? It's sad," said Dixon. She said it has been tough to pay her bills.
She recently was hired by Maple Knoll Village in Cincinnati.

Nursing home officials at Maple Knoll told ONN's Lot Tan that because of cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, they may lose around $3.5 million in the next two years. They've also had to lay off  around 30 part-time and full-time workers.

"It's disheartening what's happening to quality to care that should be provided to these residents," said Kelley Hayes, Maple Knoll Village.

Otterbein Skilled Nursing Rehab Neighborhoods has lost around $300,000 in the last quarter, but they have not had to lay off any employees.

"You have to be able to put together a plan in advance that protects the people and the skilled nursing capabilities that provides that quality of care," said Gary Hornin, Otterbein Senior  Lifestyle.

Kim Dineen's mom has lived at Otterbein Senior Lifestyle since April, but she worries about residents in other nursing homes who may have to wait for services because of the cuts.

"They may be needing attention and having to wait for medicine and going to the restroom if you need assistance, the stuff you really can't wait for," said Dineen.

Nursing home officials said they will try to lobby the governor's office to try and restore some of the funds and bring back some workers.

Around the state, nursing homes surveyed by the Ohio Health Care Association reported that some 2,800 jobs were eliminated since July 1, mainly nurses and nursing assistants, the trade  group's executive director said. Another group, LeadingAge Ohio, said its nonprofit nursing home members have cut more than 300 jobs in recent weeks.

Eric Poklar, a spokesman for Gov. John Kasich's Office of Health Care Transformation, asserted that the job losses at nursing homes are being offset by new work in other options for long- term care as state funding is "rebalanced."
 
"Taxpayers can't afford to pay for costly institutional care in nursing homes like we did in the past, especially when seniors are saying loud and clear that they prefer to receive services  in home- and community-based settings," Poklar said.

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