Abstract
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has been particularly challenging for nursing home staff and residents. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regulation waivers are burdening staff and affecting how care is delivered. Residents are experiencing social isolation, which can result in physical and behavioral health issues, particularly for persons with dementia. These challenges can be addressed in part through technology adaptations. Full integration of electronic health record systems can improve workflow and care quality. Telehealth can improve access to outside providers, provide remote monitoring, and improve social connectedness. Electronic and audiovisual programs can be used for end-of-life planning and information sharing between nursing home staff and families. Online learning systems and other online resources provide flexible options for staff education and training. Investing in and adapting technology can help mitigate workforce stress and improve the quality of nursing home care during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has placed unprecedented strain on the US health care system, and the possibility that it could become endemic—meaning it will be a common dweller that regularly infects humans—suggests that this strain will persist for some time
Providing these heroes with resources to safely deliver high-quality care to their patients and themselves is imperative in acute care settings such as emergency rooms and intensive care units (ICUs), and in nursing homes, where staff provide care for vulnerable older adults in settings that are at risk for infectious disease outbreaks
Nursing home staff face unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic because they care for older adults with a high level of vulnerability to COVID-19 and experience constraints that far exceed those imposed in acute care settings
Summary
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has placed unprecedented strain on the US health care system, and the possibility that it could become endemic—meaning it will be a common dweller that regularly infects humans—suggests that this strain will persist for some time. Nursing homes continue to battle COVID-19 infections among residents and staff, which is challenging how nursing homes provide care to our most vulnerable older adults.
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