States should have strong oversight over Medicaid managed care programs, report asserts

Newly published data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms that aides account for most of the staffing hours in assisted living and similar residential care communities.

Aides accounted for 76% of all staffing hours in such communities in 2016, according to data from the 2016 National Study of Long-Term Care Providers reported in the May 4 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

That compares with activities staff members, who accounted for 10% of staffing hours; registered nurses, 7%; licensed practical or vocational nurses, 6%; and social workers, 1%, according to study data.

Aides also had the highest percentages in adult day services centers and nursing homes.

In adult day services centers, aides provided 39% of all staffing hours, followed by activities staff members, 30%; registered nurses, 15%; licensed practical or vocational nurses, 9%; and social workers, 6%.

In nursing homes, aides accounted for 59% of all staffing hours, compared with licensed practical or vocational nurses, 21%; registered nurses, 13%; activities staff members, 5%; and social workers, 2%.