Nursing homes in New York will be required to keep minimum staffing levels and hours at their facilties under an order signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul this week. 

The move is being praised by labor unions and advocates for older people, but industry organizations are raising concerns that they will have to hire thousands of new staff immediately in order to comply. 

On Friday, the labor union 1199SEIU, which represents service workers, as well as AARP New York, praised the order. 

"These are our most fragile citizens of New York and we need to make sure that they are being taken care of," said AARP New York's Beth Finkel.

Hochul's order to is meant to implement a 2021 law signed by her predecessor, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Nursing homes will be required to have daily straffing by a certified nurse equivalent to 3-1/2 hours of care per resident each day as part of Hochul's order. 

"When we've needed the standards the most, when we've needed the right money be spent on the residents, we are so glad that the governor has stepped forward and made sure that that legislation goes into effect," Finkel said. 

Industry representatives, however, are concerned with the impact of the order. 

Nursing home staffing has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. A combination of fatigue and vaccination requirements have led to an exodus of staff. Karen Lipson of Leading Age New York says at least 9,000 workers would need to be hired immediately. 

"Without that investment of resources and time to comply, unforunately the minimum hours mandate is just a false promise," Lipson said. 

Lipson's group, which represents non-profit nursing homes, is calling for an increase in reimbursement rates from the state to cover the rise in costs for non-profit nursing homes. 

"We think it's a well-intended goal, but our members, our public and not-for-profit members have been doing everything possible to recruit more staff and the job applicants just don't exist," Lipson said.