Nursing home residents and their families have endured tragic losses from the COVID-19 pandemic. Sadly, this vulnerable population may once again be disproportionately affected by illness from new SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Because of the pandemic, the financial burdens on nursing home facilities are staggering. More than half of nursing homes recently surveyed reported they are operating at a loss, and 72% said they will not be able to sustain operations for another year at the current pace.1 Much of this financial strain has been driven by an increase in unavoidable expenses from purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) and paying for additional staffing. Compounding the budget strain from increased spending are decreased profits. Higher mortality rates along with transference of residents to hospitals for additional care have resulted in more unoccupied beds in many nursing homes.