5 things: Staffing struggles may force many nursing homes to close, survey finds

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:`

A survey from the American Health Care Association (AHCA), which represents more than 14,000 nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the country, showed a continued struggle with staffing, with 60% saying their workforce situation has worsened since January, 87% saying they are currently facing moderate to high staffing shortages and almost all (98%) saying they are experiencing difficulty hiring staff. Hence, nearly all (99%) are asking staff to work overtime or extra shifts, more than 70% have hired temporary agency staff and 90% have offered increased wages and bonuses to lure workers. As a result, 61% report they are limiting new admissions and 73% are concerned about having to close their facilities over staffing woes.

Read more: Nursing homes across the country still facing staffing shortages, AHCA survey shows

An analysis of 2019-2022 tuition figures from U.S. News & World Report found that 27 of America’s top 30 universities are raising tuition and fees for the next academic year, and all 30 have raised prices at least once since the 2019-2020 academic year that coincided with the COVID-19 outbreak in America. Only Harvard University and Duke University have lowered tuition for the 2022-2023 academic year while the University of Michigan is keeping its same tuition rate and the University of Virginia is decreasing its in-state tuition but is increasing its out-of-state tuition.

Related:5 things: Elior expands into Medicare Advantage meal service market

Read more: 27 of top 30 universities are increasing tuition again after COVID-era rate hikes

Vermont Gov. Phil Scott has signed a bill into law that will establish free universal school meals in the state for the 2022-23 school year, making Vermont the third state following California and Maine to guarantee free school meals for the state's K-12 students following the expiration on June 30 of the federal waivers implemented during the COVID pandemic. The legislation also designates $500,000 to continue a local food incentive grant program designed to put more locally grown, whole foods on student lunch trays.

Read more: Free, Universal school meals to Vermont students

Sodexo has announced that its InReach convenience business has acquired VendEdge, a major Southeastern full-service vending company in the U.S. "The acquisition of VendEdge—a company known for reputational excellence and integrity—supports our standing as a leader in the convenience industry," said Husein Kitabwalla, CEO, Food Transformation, Sodexo North America. "With the VendEdge acquisition we now have the right platform to grow in the Southeastern US market as well as expand our reach to clients without on-site kitchens who need premium food and beverage options."

Related:5 tech things: Checkout-less markets replace c-stores at University of Denver

Read more: Sodexo’s Convenience Business, InReach, Acquires Vending Leader, VendEdgex

Western Michigan University is postponing the opening of its new student center, originally scheduled for this fall, to January 2023 due to worldwide supply chain issues and a tight labor market. The three-story building is slated to have shops, gathering spaces, lounges, an on-campus brewpub and a dining center featuring eight micro-restaurants, plus a Starbucks, a Mi Pi pizzeria unit, the Latin restaurant Fuego Verde and a Re-Fresh Market for on-the-go options.

Read more: Supply chain issues delay opening of new WMU student center

Bonus: The greening of onsite dining accelerates

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]