This study examined the decline in admissions to community nursing homes among Veterans following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using VA purchasing records and semistructured interviews with VA staff, the study found a 35% decrease in Veteran admissions to community nursing homes between April and December 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. Nationally, total nursing home admissions decreased by 19.6%. Three contributing factors emerged from staff interviews: fewer available nursing home beds due to infection prevention policies; decreased admissions due to fear of COVID-19 exposure; and Veterans choosing home-based care over nursing homes. The study concludes that this decline raises concerns about the health outcomes and well-being of Veterans and their caregivers when nursing home care is replaced with home- and community-based care.
Publisher
JAMDA
Published On
Jan 01, 2023
Authors
Portia Y Cornell, Kate H Magid, Emily Corneau, Leah M Haverhals, Cari Levy, Jonathan H Harwood Jr
Tags
Veterans
nursing homes
COVID-19
admissions decline
home-based care
health outcomes
long term care
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