Long-Term Care – Archive

(05/27/21) Nursing Home Staffing Levels Did Not Change Significantly During COVID-19
New research published in the journal Health Affairs has found nursing home staffing levels were not significantly different during the COVID-19 pandemic when compared to the same period prior to the pandemic. The study did find small increases in staff hours in counties with high COVID-19 prevalence.

(05/25/21) Broadened Scope of Practice in Assisted Living Should Continue After Pandemic, Association Argues
The Governor of Massachusetts, Charlie Baker, has lifted several COVID-19 restrictions and announced that the state of emergency would end on June 15, 2021. This announcement has caused much concern among assisted living facilities as the state of emergency permitted the state to waive regulations that define the scope of practice for several health professionals. Since this announcement, the Massachusetts Assisted Living Association has advocated for permanent expansion of the scope of practice for assisted living facility nurses.

(05/11/21) CMS Expanding Efforts to Grow COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence and Uptake Amongst Nation’s Most Vulnerable
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced a new regulation requiring long-term care facilities and intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to release information on the vaccination status of both providers and patients, beginning June 14, 2021.

(05/02/21) Nearly 40% of State’s Nursing Home Workers Declined COVID-19 Shots
New York State is seeing a slowing vaccination rate among its nursing home workers as nearly 40% of the 146,000 workers statewide have not yet been vaccinated. This is particularly concerning as nursing home residents have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although facilities with extremely low staff vaccination rates are escalating the concerns of resident relatives and health professionals, Governor Cuomo does not believe this is cause for vaccination mandates. Facilities with high vaccination rates among staff have shared their strategies for addressing vaccine hesitancy so that other facilities could implement similar approaches.

(04/22/21) COVID-19 Long-term Care Deaths and Cases Are at an All-Time Low, Though a Rise In LTC Cases in a Few States May Be Cause for Concern
This analysis conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that long-term care COVID-19 cases and mortality rates have significantly decreased since the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out. This study assessed state reported long term care facility data from 41 states and Washington D.C. to evaluate the trends in new COVID-19 cases and deaths since December 21, 2020. Of the states that KFF could statistically evaluate COVID-19 death rates, 21 states reported an all-time low and five states reported zero deaths. The analysis also found that COVID-19 death rates of all states in the analysis have declined by 89% since the start of vaccinations in December.

(04/22/21) Not Enough CNY Nursing Home Workers Get COVID-19 Shots; ‘We Are in a Race Against Time’
The New York State Health Department has reported that approximately 40% of nursing home workers in Central New York did not receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The state’s nursing home facilities have vaccinated approximately 87% of its patients but the low vaccination rates among staff is becoming a huge concern. Public health officials are worried that unvaccinated workers can trigger another COVID-19 outbreak in these facilities which has been reported in other states. The state has taken measures to increase the vaccination rates of nursing home staff but remains hesitant to push for vaccination mandates as this action may affect the supply of nursing home workers.

(04/15/21) Physicians Propose New Way to Manage a COVID Outbreak in Long-term Care Settings
This article from McKnight’s Long-Term Care News highlights a clinical research study conducted by doctors at the University of Chicago and the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston. The study assessed the clinical outcomes of high-risk COVID-19 patients in a 200-bed skilled nursing facility in Chicago. The researchers implemented an enhanced clinical management strategy that reduced the mortality rate of the facility by 16%. These findings suggest that other long-term care providers should adopt this model of care to better manage COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities.

(04/14/21) One Change That Could Help Nursing Homes Recover From COVID-19 Fears and Become Safer Places for Aging Parents
This opinion piece discusses the disproportionate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on nursing home facilities. Nursing home residents accounted for nearly one third of COVID-19 deaths as facilities struggled to maintain staffing expectations. The federal minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes continues to be affected by a low supply of nursing home workers, high turnover rates, and low wages. The article suggests that increasing the wages for nursing home staff would subsequently increase the supply of nursing home workers.

(04/05/21) Should Health Care Workers Be Required to Get Coronavirus Shots? Companies Grapple With Mandates
Silverado, a long-term care company with several locations across the country, is one of the first facilities to require their staff to at least be scheduled to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. Several health care companies are debating the need to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations among their workers. A recent poll conducted by Washington Post and Kaiser Family Foundation found that most health care workers would support such a mandate. However, those that did not plan on receiving a COVID-19 vaccination would rather leave their jobs than be forced to get vaccinated.

(03/31/21) Federal Program to Bring Vaccine to Nursing Homes Missed Around Half of Staff
This article from NPR covers the issue of vaccine hesitancy and refusal in nursing homes. Across the United States, staff at long-term care facilities are refusing to be vaccinated for COVID-19, concerning health experts due to the outsized number of deaths and severe illness among long-term care residents from COVID-19.

(03/30/21) March 30 Web Event: Unsung Heroes: The Crucial Role – and Tenuous Circumstances – of Home Care Workers During the Pandemic
An interactive web event held by Kaiser Health News and The John A. Hartford Foundation assessed the critical roles of home care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the economic challenges of the industry for both providers and patients. Elisabeth Rosenthal, Kaiser Health News’ Editor-in-Chief, moderated the event. The panelists included Joanne Taylor, Owner of Senior Helpers Westchester, Clare McHugh, home health care client and novelist, Karen Gilmore, home care worker for McHugh, and Robert Espinoza, Vice President of Policy at PHI.

(03/23/21) New Studies Show Dire State Of Nursing Homes Even Before The Pandemic
Patients living in nursing homes and long-term care facilities make up less than 1% of the population but accounted for nearly two thirds of all COVID-19 deaths. This article highlights two studies that assessed staffing and nursing home spending prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the emergency preparedness of these facilities.

(03/23/21) Assisted Living Center Company Requiring Employees to be Vaccinated by May 1
Civitas Living Center is a senior living facility with over 2,600 employees across multiple locations. The company is also a certified COVID-19 vaccination site and is now requiring that their employees receive the COVID-19 vaccine by May 1, 2021.

(03/11/21) COVID-19 Mortality Rates Among Nursing Home Residents Declined From March To November 2020
A Health Affairs analysis finds that COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents declined by approximately 9.7% from March 2020 to November 2020. The reasons for a reduction in the mortality rates among this group are unclear, however, the study speculates that the increased use of PPE and improved clinical management may have contributed to this trend.

(03/10/21) Federal Health Officials Encourage Nursing Homes to Resume Allowing Indoor Visits
Health officials have encouraged indoor visitation in long-term care facilities as vaccination rates rise and COVID-19 cases decline among nursing home residents. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released guidance for nursing homes to safely resume indoor visitation.

(03/08/21) Long-term Care Providers, Experts Debate Legality of Vaccine Mandates
Ethical and legal concerns are at the forefront of a debate to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for employees of long-term care facilities. Some experts believe that a federal mandate is necessary for the protection of facility residents. Atria Senior Living Facility and Juniper Communities have already taken the initiative to mandate vaccinations for their staff. Mark Parkinson, President and CEO of the American Health Care Association, hopes that increased vaccination rates among long-term care staff will eradicate the need to mandate COVID-19 vaccination.

(03/07/21) Industry Lobbying Left Nursing Homes Vulnerable in Pandemic
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, several nursing homes and long-term care facilities faced critical workforce shortages that affected the quality of care for its residents. The COVID-19 pandemic has elucidated both new and existing workforce concerns for the long-term care industry. As congress pushes for legislation that enforces staffing level mandates, lobbyists believe that staffing mandates may make matters worse.

(03/04/21) Some Rochester Long-Term Care Workers Hesitant to Receive COVID-19 Vaccine
Rochester Assemblymen, Harry Bronson, co-sponsored new legislation that relaxes visitation rules for nursing homes as the Department of Health reports high vaccination rates among residents of long-term care facilities. This decision raises concerns since only 50% of long-term care staff have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Although the CDC has recommended that all employees of long-term care receive the vaccine, there is still a high rate of vaccine hesitancy among long-term care workers.

(03/04/21) Reopening of Long-Term Care Facilities Is ‘an Absolute Necessity for Our Well-Being’
Long-term care facility residents and medical directors are urging federal and state health authorities to reassess visitation restrictions for long-term care institutions. Many of these precautionary restrictions were in effect since September. Some public health officials believe that the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination and the resulting decline in COVID-19 cases in long-term care facilities calls for a plan to safely expand visitation rules.

(03/03/21) Los Angeles County Finds Fewer Cases Among Health Care Workers as More Get Vaccinated
Los Angeles county health officials report that new COVID-19 cases among health care workers have significantly declined due to high vaccination rates among this group. Nursing home and long-term facility care workers have seen the largest decrease in new cases as they accounted for one quarter of all COVID-19 cases in the county. A nationwide Kaiser Family Foundation analysis conducted between February 15 and February 23, found that Los Angeles county is leading in the race to achieve a fully vaccinated health workforce.

(02/24/21) Is the End of the Long-Term Care Crisis Within Sight? New COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Long-Term Care Facilities Are Dropping
A Kaiser Family Foundation analysis found that the number of residents contracting and dying of COVID-19 in nursing homes has significantly declined after the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine. This analysis compares trends in new COVID-19 cases and deaths among nursing facility residents with trends in all other new COVID-19 cases and deaths excluding nursing facility residents through February 7, 2021.

(02/23/21) Home Health Care Workers Having Little Success Getting Access to COVID-19 Vaccine
Home health care workers are struggling to get COVID-19 vaccines in Florida. It is unclear how many of the 80,000 home health care workers in Florida have been vaccinated but many health workforce agencies in the state are saying only a small portion of their workforce have been vaccinated so far.

(02/16/21) Keys to Building a Stronger, More Equitable LTC Workforce
This article highlights the key features of a new report from nonprofit research and consulting group Altarum and national research, advocacy, and workforce innovations organization PHI. The report examines the state of the long-term care workforce in the state of Michigan, but also offers recommendations that are likely to help strengthen direct care workers throughout the nation.

(02/11/21) A Constant Trauma: Senior Living Providers Face Mental Health Crisis Among Covid-19 Workforce
This article discusses the mental health burden among frontline workers in senior housing and long-term care facilities.

(02/09/21) About 60% of Nursing Home Staff Declined COVID Vaccines, Walgreens Exec Says
This news article discusses the challenges that Walgreens and CVS Health are facing due to vaccine hesitancy among staff members of long-term care facilities.

(01/31/21) Anxiety Grows As Long-term Care Awaits COVID-19 Vaccines
This article discusses the long wait for COVID-19 vaccinations at long-term care sites and how this delay is causing great anxiety for the residents.

(01/15/21) CVS and Walgreens Under Fire for Slow Pace of Vaccination in Nursing Homes
A federal program to send pharmacists from CVS and Walgreens into long-term care facilities to vaccinate staff and patients has reportedly hampered the vaccination process in many of these locations, according to nursing home directors, health care officials, and others. This article from CNN and Kaiser Health News covers these difficulties.

(01/06/21) January 14 Web Event: A Shot in the Arm for Long-term Care Facilities? Early Lessons From the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout to High Priority Populations
The Kaiser Family Foundation has announced an upcoming interactive web event featuring expert advice and key takeaways of the COVID-19 vaccine administration in the long-term care industry. The webinar will take place at 12pm EST and will include perspectives from patients, nursing home officials, and pharmacy providers performing vaccinations, among others.

(01/05/21) COVID-19 Vaccine May Not Get to Long-term Care Facilities Quickly Enough
This article from NPR covers the current deadly reality of the COVID-19 pandemic in long-term care facilities. Although vaccination has begun in long-term care facilities across the United States, deaths from COVID-19 among staff and residents are on the rise.

(12/31/20) Ohio Gov: 60 Percent of Nursing Home Staff Elected Not to Take COVID-19 Vaccine
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine recently announced that a majority of staff in long-term care facilities in Ohio have refused to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Ohio does not require these health care workers to be vaccinated for COVID-19, but strongly encourages it.

(12/17/20) Nursing Homes, Ravaged by COVID-19, Start Vaccinating the Most Vulnerable
In this article from The New York Times, nursing home administrators discuss their optimism over vaccines for COVID-19, but warn the battle to end the pandemic is far from over. Staff and residents of long-term care facilities in several states are now receiving some of the earliest doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

(12/10/20) Another COVID-19 Effect: Hospital-at-home Care Is Starting to Pick Up
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rise in hospital-at-home care, with patients opting to receive treatment they otherwise would have gone to the hospital for in their own home settings. With hospital-at-home seen as a potentially safer mechanism for delivering health care, more hospitals and health insurance companies are offering it as a covered treatment option.

(11/25/20) COVID-19 Has Claimed the Lives of 100,000 Long-Term Care Residents and Staff
This article from the Kaiser Family Foundation reports a grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic for long-term care: more than 100,000 residents and staff from long-term care facilities have died of COVID-19.

(11/23/20) Diving Into the Home Health Emergency Access to Telehealth (HEAT) Act
This article highlights new legislation introduced by Maine Senator Susan Collins and Maryland Senator Ben Cardin with the intention of creating rules for reimbursement for telehealth services offered in a home health care setting, which has already been operating without reimbursement in many locations due to its effectiveness.

(11/17/20) COVID-19’s Deadly Lesson: Time to Revamp Long-term Care
A blog post featured on Health Affairs covers many of the issues in long-term care laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic. Understaffing and infection control issues have remained long-standing issues in the long-term care industry, with a need to revamp understanding of the role of long-term care and increase regulation to improve the situation.

(11/16/20) Nursing Home and Assisted Living Workers Face COVID-19 Surge—As They Cope With Grief
This article covers the impact of COVID-19 on many in the long-term care workforce, where workers have been stretched thin treating one of the most vulnerable populations to COVID-19. Trouble sleeping and difficulties processing grief from outbreaks, deaths, and fear are all reported problems experienced by these workers.

(11/16/20) Demand for Home Health Care Surges Amid COVID-19, Shifting Industry Landscape
With a significant number of deaths from COVID-19 occurring in nursing home settings, beds are opening and patients are seeking to stay home for their long-term care and rehabilitation arrangements. This article highlights how the home health care industry is experiencing increased demand and shifting the landscape of long-term care.

(11/12/20) Nursing Homes Still See Dangerously Long Waits for COVID Test Results
This article shines a light on the current problems surrounding the safety of staff and residents in nursing homes throughout the nation. The validity of rapid-testing, the turnaround time for more accurate testing, and the question of whether asymptomatic people should get tested all come into play in the discussion.

(11/05/20) What COVID-19 Exposed in Long-term Care
This article covers the difficulties experienced by nursing homes and other long-term care facilities across the United States in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Years of financial and staffing issues contributed to a setting where 40% of all deaths from COVID-19 occurred in long-term care.

(10/30/20) State Mask Stockpiling Orders Are Hurting Nursing Homes, Small Clinics
This article, jointly published by NBC News and Kaiser Health News, describes the difficulties experienced by nursing homes, small physician offices, and rural health clinics to acquire supplies of personal protective equipment. While states are mandating stockpiles, wealthier clinics can place larger orders, disincentivizing manufacturers of personal protective equipment from taking small orders.

(10/16/20) Most US Home Health Aides ‘Can’t Afford Not to Work’ – Even Without PPE
A joint report from The Guardian and Kaiser Health News has found that while home health workers are a key component of the response and treatment of COVID-19, they receive low wages and lack of hazard pay, sick leave, and insurance. This leaves the workers vulnerable to infection and unable to afford time off.

(10/14/20) Poor Job Quality, COVID-19 Pandemic Hurt Direct Care Workforce: PHI Report
A new report from PHI identifies critical issues with the direct care workforce, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Low pay, insufficient training, and lack of paid sick and family leave are all listed as significant issues for the industry as a whole.

(10/12/20) Marketing, Workforce Management Among Top COVID-19 Challenges for Independent Home Care Agencies
This article describes how the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have forced previous rivals and competitors in the long-term care industry to work together and build coalitions to advocate for federal assistance and access to personal protective equipment.

(10/06/20) Pandemic Flexibilities in Long-term Care
This webinar from the Alliance for Health Policy discusses issues both new and old in long-term care. Expert speakers present on the recent changes and gaps that remain as exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(09/18/20) Long-Term Care Facilities Must Prioritize Immigrant Workers’ Needs to Contain COVID-19
Immigrants make up a critical component of the health care industry, especially in long-term care facilities, which have many immigrants working in direct-care staff roles. As immigrant health and well-being is essential for the success of many long-term care facilities in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, some recommendations are provided for comprehensive protection, improvements to working standards, and organizing for the rights of immigrants.

(09/10/20) Mortality Rates From COVID-19 Are Lower in Unionized Nursing Homes
A new research article published in the Health Affairs journal which found that nursing homes in New York State with health care worker unions present had significantly reduced mortality from COVID-19 compared to those without union presence. Union presence was also related to increased access to personal protective equipment, which may be connected to the decrease in mortality.

(09/08/20) COVID-19 Management: An Executive’s Firsthand Experience
An expert opinion piece coming from a post-acute care executive, detailing some strategies to manage COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. Some strategies suggested include developing and deploying a COVID-19 rapid response team, working with the local and regional community, and maintaining strong communication throughout the organization.

(08/17/20) With 40% of Nursing Homes Close to Shutting Down, the ‘Shift to Home’ Is Likely to Accelerate
An article discussing a potential shift to home-based health care following a report from the American Health Care Association and the National Center for Assisted Living, both of which represent more than 14,000 nursing homes across the United States. Their report found that nearly 40% of nursing homes are at risk of shutting down with difficulties affording personal protective equipment and recruiting staff to meet demands.

(08/07/20) The Pandemic Proves It: We Have to Reimagine Nursing Home Care From the Ground Up
An opinion article that argues that as the death toll continues to rise in nursing homes during the pandemic, that urgent action and fundamental reforms must be enacted to protect long-term patients and staff.

(08/03/20) Key Questions About Nursing Home Regulation and Oversight in the Wake of COVID-19
An issue brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation investigating the impact of regulation and oversight of nursing homes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As reports are becoming available it is evident that the majority of nursing homes met the needs of infection control, however nursing home quality of care has been raised as a significant issue.

(07/31/20) Building the Long-term Care System of the Future: Will the COVID-19 Nursing Home Tragedies Lead to Real Reform?
A blog post featured on Health Affairs discussing the toll COVID-19 has inflicted upon long-term care facilities in the United States. The authors recommend better integration of state and local communities and multiple providers as well as better funding models to improve long-term care treatment.

(07/27/20) Rapid Testing Aid Coming to Florida Nursing Homes, but Concerns Remain
A report on the implementation of rapid testing aid to nursing homes in Florida. The United States Department of Health and Human Services has announced plans to send testing machines to every skilled nursing facility in the country.

(07/27/20) Data Driven Solutions for COVID-19 in Skilled Nursing Facilities: MDS ‘Section Y’
A blog post published in Health Affairs discussing proposals for specific tracking of COVID-19 infection in skilled nursing facilities to help fill a data gap emerging in relation to long-term care. This proposal could allow better information for health policymakers and become a model for data-driven approaches to future health emergencies.

(07/15/20) COVID-19 Testing Falls Short in Long-term Care Facilities
While residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities make up 45% of deaths to COVID-19 thus far, only seven states have mandated testing for staff and patients. This patchwork approach as well as delays in getting test results back are contributing to more staff and patient illness, and less safe long-term care environments.

(07/15/20) After Care Home Refuses Free Tests, COVID-19 Sweeps Facility
An article covering how some long-term care facilities in Montana refused government help in testing their staff and patients, only to experience large outbreaks in the aftermath. Professional organizations like the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine are calling for all staff and patients to be tested for COVID-19.

(07/10/20) As COVID-19 Batters the Sunbelt, Have We Learned Anything About Protecting Long-term Care Residents?
An article covering some of the difficulties with providing adequate and safe care in long-term care facilities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Some strategies provided to protect staff and patients include increasing pay for the long-term care workforce and improving access to personal protective equipment.

(07/08/20) LTC Residents and Workers Should Get Top Priority for COVID-19 Vaccine: AHCA
The American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living wrote a letter to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, requesting that those working in long-term care facilities and their patients be given first priority to any COVID-19 vaccine, as they treat the most vulnerable populations to the disease.

(07/05/20) Tale of Two Home Health Providers: ‘Value-Based Care Gap’ Growing Wider
As the United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are promoting further commitment to value-based care, some fear the emphasis is increasingly on large, national organizations and leaves regional chains and smaller home health providers out of the conversation.

(07/02/20) 25M Long-Term Care Plan Expanding Home-Based Options Introduced by Raimondo, in Light of COVID-19
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo has released a plan to spend $25 million on expansion of home health care options for those in Rhode Island. This funding will help nursing facilities with infection control, as well as targeted investments in home-based workforce programs.

(06/29/20) Caregivers on the Front Lines in Nursing Homes Risk Health, Safety During Pandemic
An article covering the difficulties many long-term care facilities are experiencing protecting their workers and patients amidst the COVID-19 crisis. High turnover, low pay, little or no paid sick leave or health insurance, and lack of adequate personal protective equipment have put many workers in long-term care facilities at risk.

(06/25/20) Senior Living Gets Reprieve as Healthcare Workers Treating Coronavirus Patients Are Exempted From Federal Freeze on Immigration Visas
An article explaining the exemption from the federal freeze on immigration visas in the assisted living and long-term care industry. Immigrant workers have been crucial in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic within the long-term care industry, where recruitment is difficult with long hours and low pay.

(06/22/20) Market Forecast: COVID-19’s Long-Term Impact on Home Care
An article covering some of the predictions for changes coming to home health care following the COVID-19 pandemic. The article discusses many of the changes currently in effect for home health workers and how these may change or remain.

(06/18/20) COVID-19 Collaboration Reducing Infections in Long-Term Care Facilities
An article discussing how the University of Virginia Health System has been working with long-term care facilities to effectively address the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing lower mortality rates from outbreaks of infection compared to other parts of the United States.

(06/16/20) People With Disabilities Find the Coronavirus has Cut Them Off From Their Caregivers
This article examines how COVID-19 has exposed vulnerabilities in Wisconsin’s health care system, especially those designed to serve older people and disabled residents.

(06/16/20) Under the Radar: States Vary in Regulating and Reporting COVID-19 in Assisted Living Facilities
This article examines how states are regulating assisted living facilities in response to Covid 19. There are significant variations in reporting for assisted living facilities between states related to visitors, staff screening, and staff use of PPE.

(06/11/20) Nursing Homes Run Short of COVID-19 Protective Gear as Federal Response Falters
An article from NPR covering the difficulties nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and long-term care industry is experiencing acquiring personal protective equipment for their health workforce. While help was promised, deliveries were delayed and inadequate to protect the workforce.

(06/10/2020) A New Way To Fight COVID in Long Term Care
An article discussing how a “strike team” of medical professionals was formed in Henderson County to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst long-term care facilities. This article outlines when and how the team worked to protect the residents.

(06/09/2020) How To Redesign Long-Term Care for Older Adults After COVID-19 
An article covering how COVID-19 has exposed long-standing issues in the long-term care industry, as well as offering some suggestions for improving the industry following the COVID-19 pandemic. These suggestions include more funding, more home health care, and better coordinated care.

(06/08/2020) COVID-19 Has Highlighted the Risks Home Health Workers Face — Here’s What Can Be Done To Help
An article covering many of the risks home health workers face during the COVID-19 pandemic, most of which stem from even before the pandemic. Low pay and insufficient hours or seasonal employment both increase risk of infection for the workers and their patients and lead to issues maintaining a home health workforce.

(06/04/20) Hundreds of Nursing Homes Ran Short on Staff, Protective Gear As More Than 30,000 Residents Died During Pandemic
An article covering the inability of many nursing homes to deal with the surge of COVID-19 cases within their long-term care facilities. Issues acquiring personal protective equipment and maintaining staffing levels exacerbated issues among an already at-risk population.

(05/29/20) ‘It’s Getting Worse.’ Nursing Home Workers Confront Risks in Facilities Devastated by Coronavirus
An article covering the more personal lives and perspectives of the nursing home, home health, and long-term care workforce amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Low pay and lack of protective equipment continue to be issues for workers throughout the long-term care industry.

(05/26/20) CVS Head of Specialty Pharmacy Sees Future of Healthcare at Home After COVID-19
In this interview Prem Shah, head of CVS Health’s specialty pharmacy strategy, discusses the adaptations the pharmaceutical industry has had to make to adjust to increases in encounter volumes while attempting to maintain safety for patients and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the potential long-term impacts of these changes.

(05/22/20) To Test Our Way Out of the COVID-19 Nightmare, Focus on Nursing Homes
An article outlining the risk of COVID-19 infection to both patients and workers in long-term care facilities, and a call for increased funding to focus testing on these populations

(05/19/20) 9 Ways COVID-19 May Forever Upend the U.S. Health Care Industry
An article describing some ways in which the health care industry has changed as a result of COVID-19. These include increased adoption and advancement of telehealth technologies, shifts in the long-term care industry to home health care, and changes to scope of practice for non-physician clinicians.

(05/18/20) How Coronavirus Could Forever Change Home Health Care, Leaving Vulnerable Older Adults Without Care and Overburdening Caregivers
An article by Maghuri Reddy, instructor of medicine at the Harvard Medical School, and researchers at the University of Toronto describing the impact of COVID-19 on the home health care industry, including the risks to home health workforce and the restriction of available funding for home health care services.

(05/11/20) Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle: Home Health Workforce is Essential to Addressing COVID-19
An article discussing comments from former United States Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and other experts regarding the importance of home health care in reducing the burden of COVID-19 on hospital systems and improving treatment options for patients.

(05/08/20) Health-Care Industry Loses 1.4 Million Jobs in Pandemic
An article describing how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the health care industry, where nearly one in twelve jobs were lost in April. Settings impacted the most include hospitals, nursing and residential care facilities, diagnostic labs and home health.

(04/28/20) AGS COVID-19 Policy Brief Offers Roadmap To Government Action In Oft-Overlooked Sphere: Assisted Living Facilities
This policy brief from the American Geriatrics Society discusses strategies for responding to COVID-19 in assisted living facilities. It is a follow up to their policy brief on nursing homes released April 8, 2020. Strategies discussed range from federal to local levels of response.

(04/23/20) COVID-19 And Workers At Risk: Examining The Long-Term Care Workforce
This brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation details the risk of COVID-19 to the long-term care workforce, which includes the workforce of skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and home health providers. Findings suggest that demographics and wage differences may exacerbate issues with infection.

(04/14/20) Home Health Care Workers at Tipping Point Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
An article discussing the issues facing home health workers including lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) and increased demand for home health services as individuals are avoiding hospital and nursing home treatment during the COVID-19 outbreak. The article also discusses increased use of telehealth from the home and calls for industrial reform to the home care industry.

(03/27/20) Epidemiology of COVID-19 in a Long-Term Care Facility in King County, Washington
A research article describing the epidemiology of COVID-19 in a long-term care facility in Washington State. This article describes how the virus spread throughout the facility and what steps can be taken to keep the long-term care workforce, patients, and facilities safe.