Strategies and implications of mitigating personnel shortages in nursing homes

Amidst demographic shifts, advanced economies are facing critical nursing shortages. This study analyzes strategies of German nursing care providers to address these shortages using administrative data for the period 2007 to 2017. Our analysis reveals that higher nursing shortages correlate with decreased nurseto-resident ratios, changes in the qualification mix of nurse personnel, and reduced care provision. These findings suggest that nurse shortages can be a threat to the quality of care and the financial sustainability of nursing homes at the margin of being profitable.