We knew before this pandemic that there was a lot wrong with our nation\u2019s nursing home system. Understaffing, lax oversight, for-profit cost-cutting and more were already causing a shocking number of nursing home neglect and abuse cases. Now all Americans have become tragically aware of how fundamentally broken our nursing home system is after more than 170,000 long-term care residents and staff died in just one year from COVID-19. And unless we address the underlying problems that got us here, we will see continued harm to vulnerable residents and workers long after the pandemic is over.<\/p>\n
Nursing home advertising often paints a rosy picture for seniors: \u201cLive in brightly polished, restful communities while licensed care providers monitor your every need.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reality can be a different story. As the COVID-19 pandemic has made abundantly clear, too many nursing homes are culpable for disease, inefficiency and neglect. Over 35% of the deaths caused by COVID-19 have occurred in long-term care facilities, and that number may well be underreported. You Should Know what happened and what is being done to address this national crisis.<\/p>\n
Over 130,000 nursing home residents and 1,619 staff have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic started.<\/p>\n