The Downfall of US Nursing Homes

Our most vulnerable family members are in our nation’s nursing homes. When the novel coronavirus did hit, these nursing homes became its ground zero as many residents and workers did not receive testing, and staff found obtaining personal protective equipment a struggle. Some facilities tended to downplay the severity of the outbreaks. Couple these issues with some state governments mandating the reintroduction of recovering COVID-19 patients back into nursing home facilities, and the perfect storm came into being. The Washington Post reports that according to the best estimates, about half of COVID-19 deaths have been nursing home residents. Currently, that half represents more than 52,500 of our senior population.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that according to two studies, nursing home residents who are dying from COVID-19 on average could have expected to live for another decade. Even the more senior residents, 90 and older, with multiple ailments, are losing more than one year of life. These studies challenge the perception that the coronavirus tends to kill elderly people who were likely to die soon anyhow.

A New Perspective on Elder Care

The coronavirus pandemic is forcing us to take a hard look at where our loved one should receive care if care at home is not a safe option. As the number of nursing home deaths continues to increase, the news media is finding it harder than ever to gloss over the unpalatable reality of these deaths.

Now more than ever it is important for families to come together when a decision must be made about a loved one’s care. We help families discuss options for care and how to plan to pay for appropriate care. If you’d like to discuss your particular situation, please don’t hesitate to contact us at our Forty Fort Pennsylvania office or give us a call at 570-288-1800.