Nursing Home Staffing Requirements and Input Substitution: Effects on Housekeeping, Food Service, and Activities Staff
Published online on February 28, 2013
Abstract
Objective
To study the effect of minimum nurse staffing requirements on the subsequent employment of nursing home support staff.
Data Sources
Nursing home data from the Online Survey Certification and Reporting (OSCAR) System merged with state nurse staffing requirements.
Study Design
Facility‐level housekeeping, food service, and activities staff levels are regressed on nurse staffing requirements and other controls using fixed effect panel regression.
Data Extraction Method
OSCAR surveys from 1999 to 2004.
Principal Findings
Increases in state direct care and licensed nurse staffing requirements are associated with decreases in the staffing levels of all types of support staff.
Conclusions
Increased nursing home nurse staffing requirements lead to input substitution in the form of reduced support staffing levels.