Sarah Lachance | Support HB1179

I live in Northern New Hampshire and throughout the years I have had many family members not only work at, but also live at St Vincent de Paul Nursing and Rehab Facility in Berlin. I have seen all sides of the Staffing issues. My mother, a retired nurse who worked at St Vincent's for almost 30 years, now resides there. She is 80 and still with it. Between my sister and I, there is someone visiting her at least four times a week. We all consistently see short staffing, if not on the same floor as my mom, on other floors. I understand how budgets affect things, as well as how few applicants there may be to cover these positions. That is where the nursing homes need to be held accountable. They need to pay a living wage so that staff retention happens. Without having specific requirements of resident to staff ratios, many facilities will slide by with as little Staffing as possible. Then resident care suffers. The elderly deserve proper time, attention, and care.