Rochester nursing home lowers capacity due to staffing shortages

(ABC 6 News) – Starting July 1, there will be fewer beds in a local nursing home as long-term care facilities across the country struggle with staffing.

Samaritan Bethany has reduced the number of residents they can house multiple times throughout the pandemic.

In July, they will be taking away 27 more beds because they cannot afford to staff them.

The facility is celebrating 100 years of being in Rochester, but Mission Leader Susan Knutson said some staff is barely hanging on. She attributes staffing shortages partially to strenuous work and low wages.

"We have a lot of great caregivers who are dedicated to the residents and are going to hang in there as long as they possibly can," Knutson said.
The state legislature, in part, determines what long-term care facilities can pay their staff.

A bill at the capitol would provide some nursing homes relief and give them the ability to increase pay for their staff. However, lawmakers will have to get back together for a special session and pass the bill for long-term care workers to see any of that money.

"We’re losing really quality people who, in their heart, this is the work they should be doing. And they do a great job of it, but they need to make a living," Knutson said.

Samaritan Bethany is a large facility with different types of long-term care available.

Before staffing shortages hit five years ago, they had around 400 staff. Right now, they are at about 200 staff.