AARP Releases First-Ever Comprehensive Snapshot of Nursing Home Staffing in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. – AARP Florida today released a comprehensive snapshot featuring the history of Florida’s nursing home staffing standards, compiling peer-reviewed research to examine the intricate relationship between high-quality nursing homes and staffing requirements. The AARP report was commissioned in collaboration with Dr. Lindsay Peterson, an assistant professor at the University of South Florida (USF), Director of the Long-term Care Administration and Aging Sciences Internship Program, and Interim Director of the Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging. 

Read AARP's Comprehensive Snapshot of Nursing Home Staffing in Florida

AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson said, “As we look closely at the history of Florida nursing home staffing standards over the last two decades, it’s clear that legislative changes have eroded Florida’s approach to care in nursing homes.  

“Florida families deserve peace of mind that those in nursing homes receive the high-quality care they need, so AARP has committed to be a watchdog on this issue. This first-of-its-kind report is a starting point for a much larger conversation about what Florida must do to provide superior care to our increasing population of elders with rising levels of need. 

“Developed in collaboration with Dr. Lindsay Peterson, an award-winning, respected voice on long-term care and aging studies, AARP Florida hopes that this snapshot will serve as a resource to legislative decision-makers and elected officials. The best decisions are informed by high-quality research. This compilation of peer-reviewed studies illustrates the history, significant policy changes, past challenges, and current landscape of staffing Florida’s long-term care system.  

“As Florida’s long-term care system and its residents adjust to the recent changes, which have watered down nursing care, we must be prepared to examine what these changes have done and will do to the critical relationship between staffing levels and quality care. Only in doing this can we determine what’s coming next and take a thought leadership role in shaping this system for generations of older adults to come.” 

University of South Florida Assistant Professor Lindsay Peterson, Ph.D., said, “As a long-term care researcher, I think it is critically important to understand and communicate the results of peer-reviewed studies. It is important to shine a light on the complex nature of our nursing home staffing standards, as the late USF Professor Kathryn Hyer did a decade ago with her policy research on staffing in Florida’s nursing homes and the challenges facing this system. I look forward to continuing this work with AARP to provide more substantive research on nursing home staffing, including the changes Florida has implemented and their impact on nursing home residents and staff.”  

Dr. Lindsay Peterson Bio 

Lindsay Peterson is a research assistant professor in the School of Aging Studies at the University of South Florida. She has conducted research on long-term care quality and disaster preparedness in nursing homes and assisted living communities and among caregivers living in the community. This work has been conducted through grants with the National Institute on Aging and with the Retirement Research Foundation, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association. Peterson began her career as a journalist in Florida. After leaving newspapers in 2012, she obtained her Ph.D. in Aging Studies from USF and joined the Aging Studies faculty in 2016. She is also Interim Director of the Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging at USF. The focus of her work with the policy center is on disseminating research results and highlighting the value of research for policy development.  

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AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.