The Willow Point Nursing Home in Broome County is now under a state of emergency due to a worker shortage.
The facility only has 32 nurses on staff right now, as opposed to the 70 budgeted for the nursing home.
Because of this, the nursing home has suspended admissions for the time being and is closing a unit.
It comes after the facility already closed two units and increased pay for nurses.
Broome County Executive Jason Garnar said there are plenty of reasons for the shortage.
“Health care staffing has been an issue for a number of years before COVID even started,” he said. “But certainly the burnout rates of COVID, people wanting to retire, people aren’t really jumping into this profession during a pandemic so we’re not really replacing a lot of people who are leaving, and then certainly the mandates have all played, have all really created this massive staffing problem.”
Garnar has also put together a rapid response team to help support where needed.
