1. NURSING HOMES NEED MORE STAFF! Nursing Home Staffing Campaign National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care

2. The Problem: Not enough staff to care for residents

3. Residents can be harmed physically when there are not enough staff https://www.flickr.com/photos/sultan/3213646605/

4. Residents can be harmed emotionally when there are not enough staff http://alzheimers-review.blogspot.com/2011/04/clinical-depression-as-risk- factor-for.html

5. Others suffer too Staff Families of residents All of us - American taxpayers http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental- health/depression/questions/depression-run-in-families.htm

6. What can be done? Require a minimum staffing standard to prevent harm to residents This would create a minimum staffing level below which a nursing home can’t cut

7. What is the current standard? Current federal regulations: “Sufficient” staffing to meet the needs of residents The federal government does not require minimum staffing levels in nursing homes http://brittanylavan.wordpress.com/what-effects- quality-of-care/consequences-of-understaffing/

8. How do we know what a minimum staffing standard should be? The federal government’s own study determined that to avoid harm, residents should receive at least 4.1 hours of care from nursing assistants and nurses per day. 4.1 hours would avoid quality of care problems Examples: pressure ulcers, dehydration and the loss of the ability to carry out daily tasks like eating, getting dressed and walking. 4.1

9. Better Staffing = Better Care There is a direct link between staffing levels and quality care There are more than 100 studies, articles, and government documents showing this link Requiring a minimum staffing standard will increase staffing levels; Increased staffing levels will help improve care http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/19/mo ther-home-lonely-jeremy-hunt-elderly-people-care

10. What can you do? Contact your members of Congress. Tell them about your experience. Ask them to protect nursing home residents by increasing staffing levels to 4.1 hours per resident per day. Email your members of Congress using the Consumer Voice easy online system: www.theconsumervoice.org/betterstaffing (Click on one of the links to e-mail Congress)www.theconsumervoice.org/betterstaffing Sign and return postcard to Consumer Voice: National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care 1001 Connecticut Avenue, NW, #425 Washington, DC 20036 Spread the word! Tell the people you know to help nursing home residents by contacting their members of Congress.

11. What can you do? Join the Consumer Voice Nursing Home Staffing Campaign! Go to: www.theconsumervoice.org/betterstaffingwww.theconsumervoice.org/betterstaffing Email: info@theconsumervoice.orginfo@theconsumervoice.org Call Consumer Voice at: 866-992-3668 (toll-free)

12. TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!