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The effect of staffing on objective quality of nursing home care

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  • Bergschneider, Henrik
  • Heger, Dörte

Abstract

Growing needs for long-term care coupled with a dwindling supply of nursing personnel is a common challenge for developed countries. To uphold care standards, many countries introduced measures to safeguard staffing levels, e.g. by introducing minimum staffing regulations for nursing homes. However, evidence on the causal relationship of nurse staffing levels and quality of care is still inconclusive. This paper adds to the sparse evidence of the effect of nursing personnel employed in nursing homes and objective quality of care and accounts for different qualification levels of nursing personnel. We find that more registered nurses lead to better quality outcomes for nursing home residents while nursing assistants do not influence our objective quality measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Bergschneider, Henrik & Heger, Dörte, 2025. "The effect of staffing on objective quality of nursing home care," Ruhr Economic Papers 1144, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:rwirep:312429
    DOI: 10.4419/96973327
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Johannes Geyer & Axel H. Börsch-Supan & Peter Haan & Elsa Perdrix, 2023. "Long-term Care in Germany," NBER Working Papers 31870, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Heger, Dörte & Herr, Annika & Lückemann, Maximilian & Reichert, Arndt R. & Tycher, Leonie, 2023. "Strategies and implications of mitigating personnel shortages in nursing homes," Ruhr Economic Papers 1056, RWI - Leibniz-Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Ruhr-University Bochum, TU Dortmund University, University of Duisburg-Essen.
    3. Yaa Akosa Antwi & John R. Bowblis, 2018. "The Impact of Nurse Turnover on Quality of Care and Mortality in Nursing Homes: Evidence from the Great Recession," American Journal of Health Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 4(2), pages 131-163, Spring.
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    5. Grabowski, David C., 2001. "Medicaid reimbursement and the quality of nursing home care," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 549-569, July.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Quality of care; long-term care; nursing shortage;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J63 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Turnover; Vacancies; Layoffs

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