Staffing Rations for the ALF
All of us in the “industry” understand the difficulty we face with appropriately staffing our facilities. These care positions are tough and consuming for people (especially during the time of writing this article; see COVID-19) and can leave many burnt out. But it is also an incredibly rewarding experience for employees to share their compassion for others and provide care to seniors! The state of New Mexico mandates the following regulation as to the staffing ratio and requirements of said staffs for all assisted living facilities:
7.8.2.19 STAFFING RATIOS: The following staffing levels are the minimum requirements.
- The facility shall employ the sufficient number of staff to provide the basic care, resident assistance and the required supervision based on the assessment of the residents’ needs.
(1) During resident waking hours, facilities shall have at least one (1) direct care staff person on duty and awake at all times for each fifteen (15) residents.
(2) During resident sleeping hours, facilities with fifteen (15) or fewer residents shall have at least one (1) direct care staff person on duty, awake and responsible for the care and supervision of the residents.
(3) During resident sleeping hours, facilities with sixteen (16) to thirty (30) residents shall have at least one (1) direct care staff person on duty and awake at all times and at least one (1) additional staff person available on the premises.
(4) During resident sleeping hours, facilities with thirty-one (31) to sixty (60) residents shall have at least two (2) direct care staff persons on duty and awake at all times and at least one (1) additional staff person immediately available on the premises.
(5) During resident sleeping hours, facilities with more than sixty-one (61) residents shall have at least three (3) direct care staff persons on duty and awake at all times and one (1) additional staff person immediately available on the premises for each additional thirty (30) residents or fraction thereof in the facility.
- Upon request of the department, the facility shall provide the staffing ratios per each twenty-four (24) hour day for the past thirty (30) days.
Pro Tip:
The staffing ratio in your facility is directly related to the services that are needed by your residents. There is no magic number of staff you need to have on shift at any given time. Your team must be able to meet the hourly needs of all residents while abiding by state regulations.