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6/4/2026
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Senate approves Ujifusa resolution seeking workforce analysis at Veterans Home
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate has approved a resolution sponsored by Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa urging the governor to order a workforce analysis at the Rhode Island Veterans Home to address chronic staffing shortages at the facility.
The Rhode Island Veterans Home is a state-operated long-term care facility that provides skilled nursing and residential services to veterans.
Currently, the facility is operating below its licensed capacity due to workforce shortages, including shortages of nurses, certified nursing assistants and support staff. Its 32-bed Foxtrot wing closed in the wake of the pandemic. In 2025, there were a total of 50 beds closed out the 208 it holds.
The resolution (2026-S 2753A), approved by the Senate yesterday, requests that the governor direct the Department of Administration to conduct a comprehensive analysis of why the Veterans Home cannot hire and retain enough qualified staff to operate at full capacity, examining factors including wage competitiveness, shift differentials, retention incentives, housing and commute barriers, scheduling flexibility and career advancement opportunities.
It also seeks the development of a corrective action plan based on that analysis, including a timeline that identifies how to reach full occupancy, and that the governor include those plans in his next budget proposal and take steps to implement the corrective action plans’ recommendation.
“These beds aren’t empty for lack of demand. They’re empty because the Veterans Home cannot keep enough staff to operate anywhere near its capacity. Veterans and their families in this state deserve better. The hardworking staff who stay deserve better. The state needs to identify and fix the issues and get the Veterans Home back to full operation as soon as possible,” said Senator Ujifusa (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol). “I want to thank the veterans’ advocates and fellow senators on the Special Legislation and Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Finance Committee, and especially Chairmen Walter Felag and Lou DiPalma, for helping move this bill.”
The bill is an amended version of a bill that is also sponsored in the House (2026-H 8124) by Rep. Susan R. Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth).
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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