A three-step framework for capacity planning in a nursing home context

Abstract

This paper presents a three-step conceptual framework that can be used to structure the care-related capacity planning process in a nursing home context. The proposed framework provides a sound practical vehicle to organise client-centred care without overstretching available capacity. Within this framework, an MILP for shift scheduling and a Genetic Algorithm (GA) for task-scheduling are proposed. To investigate the performance of the proposed framework, it is benchmarked against the current situation. The results show that considerable improvements can be achieved in terms of efficiency and waiting time. More specifically, it is shown that very modest waiting times can be achieved without exceeding available capacity, despite the fluctuations in care demand across the day.

Staff-Family Communication Methods in Long-Term Care Homes: An Integrative Review

“…This is particularly relevant for nurses, working shifts of 12 hours or longer, who find maintaining continuity in care assignments and thereby opportunities for communication with families significantly reduced compared to nurses working eight-hour shifts (Emmanuel et al, 2020). Frameworks to address LTC staffing challenges using care-related capacity planning have been proposed (Dieleman et al, 2023); however, their application requires attention to the uniqueness of each LTC home (i.e., number of residents and staff, size and layout of the building, geographical location). Thus, it is important to tailor staffing-related solutions to the specific needs and circumstances of each LTC home, ensuring that strategies are both effective and adaptable to the unique challenges they face.…”