6 Shocking Stats From a Year of COVID in Nursing Homes
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America's first COVID-19 outbreak came in a nursing home. On Feb. 29, 2020, a resident of Life Care Center of Kirkland in Washington state was declared . In the weeks that followed, 100 Kirkland residents — almost the facility's entire population — tested positive for the virus. Thirty-seven died. One year later, the virus has devastated residents, staff and families of , skilled nursing facilities and assisted living. Here are some of the most shocking — and telling — statistics from the tragedy: Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. • More than 170,000 residents and staff of long-term care facilities have died from COVID-19, according to . More than 1.3 million COVID-19 infections among residents and staff have been reported. WATCH: Why COVID-19 Killed So Many People in Nursing Homes • Deaths tied to long-term care facilities account for 35 percent of America's COVID-19 fatalities, even though less than 1 percent of America's population lives in such facilities, according to the COVID Tracking Project. “America has failed our long-term care residents and staff,” says AARP's Elaine Ryan, vice president of state advocacy and strategy integration. COVID in long-term care was “clearly a national crisis that needed a national intervention,” she says, “but our government failed to do that and a disproportionate amount of lives have been lost as a consequence.” • Residents and staff of long-term care facilities were seven times as likely to die of COVID-19, compared to Americans who didn't live in these facilities. Around 1 in 5 nursing home residents who tested positive for COVID-19 died from it, according to data reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Nursing home residents, who are typically older adults with high levels of and impairment, making them more susceptible to mortality from the virus, account for the largest proportion of COVID-19 fatalities within long-term care. . And 23 percent — more than 1 in 5 — did not have a one-week supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). Adequate staffing ratios in nursing homes help mitigate infections because they help ensure better care and less person-to-person contact. PPE helps stop the transfer of infectious droplets through the air. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > • Nursing homes with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic residents reported more than three times as many COVID-19 deaths as homes with more white residents, according to a . “Non-White residents are more likely to live in facilities that are larger which creates more opportunity for viral transmission,” the authors wrote. “COVID-19 is more prevalent in non-White communities, and community spread is a factor associated with cases and deaths in nursing homes.” Minority residents, they said, are “in the eye of that perfect storm." Emily Paulin is a contributing writer who covers nursing homes, health care, and federal and state policy. Her work has also appeared in Broadsheet, an Australian lifestyle publication. More on caregiving AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS
6 Shocking Statistics From a Year of COVID-19 in Nursing Homes
More than 170 000 long-term care residents and staff have died
America's first COVID-19 outbreak came in a nursing home. On Feb. 29, 2020, a resident of Life Care Center of Kirkland in Washington state was declared . In the weeks that followed, 100 Kirkland residents — almost the facility's entire population — tested positive for the virus. Thirty-seven died. One year later, the virus has devastated residents, staff and families of , skilled nursing facilities and assisted living. Here are some of the most shocking — and telling — statistics from the tragedy: Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. • More than 170,000 residents and staff of long-term care facilities have died from COVID-19, according to . More than 1.3 million COVID-19 infections among residents and staff have been reported. WATCH: Why COVID-19 Killed So Many People in Nursing Homes • Deaths tied to long-term care facilities account for 35 percent of America's COVID-19 fatalities, even though less than 1 percent of America's population lives in such facilities, according to the COVID Tracking Project. “America has failed our long-term care residents and staff,” says AARP's Elaine Ryan, vice president of state advocacy and strategy integration. COVID in long-term care was “clearly a national crisis that needed a national intervention,” she says, “but our government failed to do that and a disproportionate amount of lives have been lost as a consequence.” • Residents and staff of long-term care facilities were seven times as likely to die of COVID-19, compared to Americans who didn't live in these facilities. Around 1 in 5 nursing home residents who tested positive for COVID-19 died from it, according to data reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Nursing home residents, who are typically older adults with high levels of and impairment, making them more susceptible to mortality from the virus, account for the largest proportion of COVID-19 fatalities within long-term care. . And 23 percent — more than 1 in 5 — did not have a one-week supply of personal protective equipment (PPE). Adequate staffing ratios in nursing homes help mitigate infections because they help ensure better care and less person-to-person contact. PPE helps stop the transfer of infectious droplets through the air. Entertainment $3 off popcorn and soft drink combos See more Entertainment offers > • Nursing homes with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic residents reported more than three times as many COVID-19 deaths as homes with more white residents, according to a . “Non-White residents are more likely to live in facilities that are larger which creates more opportunity for viral transmission,” the authors wrote. “COVID-19 is more prevalent in non-White communities, and community spread is a factor associated with cases and deaths in nursing homes.” Minority residents, they said, are “in the eye of that perfect storm." Emily Paulin is a contributing writer who covers nursing homes, health care, and federal and state policy. Her work has also appeared in Broadsheet, an Australian lifestyle publication. More on caregiving AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS