In-Home Care Is the Likely Alternative

In July, a new round of COVID-19 cases was spiking in several states across the country in nursing homes and long-term facilities. With this new round, home health nurses and therapists continue to struggle with restrictions working with their patients.

To better control the spread of coronavirus, long term facilities have limited in person visits, and have also limited their residents’ access to home health services. However, many residents have critical needs to these services.

Reports cited by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living states that “With the recent major spikes of COVID cases in many states across the country, we were very concerned this trend would lead to an increase in cases in nursing homes — and unfortunately it has,” AHCA and NCAL President Mark Parkinson said in a statement. “This is especially troubling since many nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are still unable to acquire the personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing they need to fully combat this virus.”

These nursing facilities are trying to adjust procedures; however, 55% of nursing homes are operating at a loss due to the high demand of staffing and high cost of personal protective equipment (PPE).  Almost all nursing homes have lost revenue due to COVID-19, and many nursing home providers doubt their ability to bear operations at these present circumstances.

Since there are many logistical and financial challenges related to delivering care to patients within the facilities, many people are now considering keeping their loved ones at home and shifting to in-home health care solutions.  The last few months have proven that the in-home alternative is effective for seniors looking for care.