June 7, 2022 4p
(WGTD)---The Brookside Care Center in Kenosha is losing money because it can’t find enough staff to be fully-operational.
The county-owned nursing home hopes to rectify the problem by implementing an incentives program to hire and retain staff, especially CNA’s.
The plan was reviewed by Brookside’s Board of Trustees Monday. It calls for immediate across-the-board wage increases for some employees, and higher premiums for overnight and weekend shifts. Longevity and referral bonuses are included.
For example, CNA's who currently make $17.10 an hour will move to $19.13. A staff member who makes a referral and the CNA remains on the job through six months will receive $500.
The estimated cost of the incentives package over a six-month period is $130,000.
"We hope to recruit and open up some wings so we can get back to normal," said Brookside board chair Bob Pitts. "I feel very confident this is a good start," he said.
The incentives plan has been approved by new Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman.
Over the first four months of the year, Brookside lost over $1.2 million because some 50 beds couldn’t be filled because of the staff shortage.
C-N-A’s have been the hardest positions to fill. There are currently 45 full and part-time vacancies.
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