Nurse shortage affecting elder care

HARTFORD — Lawmakers are grappling with the demographics of Connecticut's rapidly aging population and an acute staffing shortage among the 241 nursing homes that have about 23,000 residents.

Majority Democrats in the General Assembly want to require higher nursing ratios, but Gov. M. Jodi Rell warns that the budget that takes effect on July 1 is perilously close to the constitutional cap on spending growth. Speaker of the House James A. Amann told lawmakers last week that the recent management failures of the Middletown-based Haven Healthcare nursing homes highlight the statewide need for more staff and tougher oversight.

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