Hospital nursing levels and care of older people

A royal college of nursing report has found the most hospitals do not meet the safe level of care as older people's wards regularly have a shortage of nurses and healthcare assistants. There is a higher patient to staff ratio on older people's wards, between 9.1 and 10.3 in comparison to general adults, 6.7, and children's wards. However, this may not mean that they are half as well cared for, perhaps the care of the elderly is less acute in hospital in comparison to younger people, and is more involved in maintenence of health and monitoring. However, the report has found that the shortage of nurses does impact patients as it reduces time and skill assigned to patient to carry out every day tasks and reduces the caring manner.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2012/03march/pages/nursing-staff-levels-elderly-care.aspx