Many Other Facilities May Be Vulnerable to Closure
Ranch Terrace Nursing Home in Sapulpa has announced it will close on August 15 due to an inability to maintain legally required staffing levels. By the closing date, all residents will be transferred to other facilities or living arrangements.
The facility, built to serve up to 85 residents, had 30 at the time of its announced closure. Scott Rogers, a co-owner of Ranch Terrace, said the low occupancy was not due to a lack of demand, but to limits tied to staffing levels.
“In a perfect world, this facility would have 50 skilled nursing professionals working here, which would enable us to have our full occupancy rate of 85 residents,” said Rogers. “That’s what it looks like when our facility is truly meeting the needs of this community and our vulnerable seniors.”
“Unfortunately, our workforce pool is so diminished that hiring qualified staffers has become impossible," continued Rogers. "As of last month, we could only field 15 full time employees. Without the staff, we can’t service our residents. Without our residents, we don’t have a business. We can’t survive at this occupancy.”
Steve Buck, President and Chief Executive Officer of Care Providers Oklahoma, said the closure represents a disturbing trend, and both state and federal policymakers should take notice.
“The future of long-term care in Oklahoma is seriously jeopardized by this ongoing workforce crisis,” said Buck. “That crisis is fueled by two factors. The first is pay. Our Medicaid rate is designed to support skilled nursing professionals earning an approximate wage of $12 an hour, which is less than an entry level job at a box store or a fast-food restaurant. We must bring the funding up to a level where we can afford to pay employees competitive rates.
“Second, we are not creating enough interest in skilled nursing as a profession or creating the pathways we need for training and employment,” continued Buck. “Just as the state has successfully done for STEM careers, we need a way to emphasize the importance and availability of jobs in nursing and health care.”
“The human cost of failing to address this workforce crisis is real and it is scary,” said Buck. “When a facility closes, as is happening in Sapulpa, many residents are moved to other facilities that are far away from family and friends. Others are moved back into residential living environments that cannot fully meet their medical needs. Neither outcome honors the commitment we have made as a community to adequately caring for and respecting our vulnerable seniors. Our Legislature understands that which is why they have approved $4.5 million in federal ARPA funds for training long term care staff. That is a positive step towards a long-term solution, but our short-term funding needs have reached a crisis level.”