Essential Reform in Long-Term Care

This article focuses on factors contributing to the state of long-term care in this country. It highlights federal legislation which delegated much oversight to the states resulting in the lack of uniform standards for leadership qualifications, staffing levels, and payment. It describes how existing payment models and hierarchical leadership styles contribute to the system's inability to recruit and retain qualified staff and the need for education to prepare nurses and direct caregivers to work with the complex population in today's nursing homes.