Since January 2020, roughly 236,000 caregivers have left nursing homes behind. That’s 15% of the total nursing home workforce. In 2022, over 400 certified nursing homes in the US are on the brink of shutting down, double the pre-pandemic closure rate. This trend continues even as the US population ages; by 2025, 1 in 4 of the US’s skilled nursing facilities could close. Why is skilled nursing in such a desperate situation? COVID-19 exposed the problem for the public to see: infection control. 20% of the US’s COVID-19 related deaths were nursing home residents. Nurses are key to preventing outbreaks, but ever-changing regulations and lack of protective supplies lead to lapses in care and deadly consequences. 2 years into the pandemic, and US nurses report feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and undervalued. As more nurses leave, those left behind are shouldered with heavy burdens, making it hard to care for residents.
Infographic by: ipcwell
