Aging service organizations are concerned the omicron surge will worsen a historic workforce shortage, as direct care staff isolate if they test positive. The industry is working with 234,000 fewer caregivers than pre-pandemic, a 15% reduction amid spiking COVID case counts.
Since Dec. 19, nursing home resident and staff COVID-19 cases have increased by 635% and 867% respectively, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and compiled in a report issued Wednesday by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL).
AHCA/NCAL President and CEO Mark Parkinson reiterated the organization’s plea to help support and protect residents and their caretakers by getting “vaccinated, boosted and masked.”
The organization also sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra to extend the public health emergency (PHE) declaration. The PHE expires Jan. 16.
As of Jan. 9, COVID cases have increased from 4,361 to 32,061 for residents, and by 51,324 for nursing home workers, CDC data show.
“As soon as news of omicron broke in December, we were very concerned this variant would lead to a surge of cases in the U.S. and therefore, an increase in cases in nursing homes and unfortunately it has,” Parkinson said in a statement.
Some state health departments have taken up guidance changes for nursing home work restrictions, in order to balance a need for staff with high transmissibility of omicron. The CDC in December said workers can still be on the floor even if they test positive for the virus, so long as they’re wearing an N95 mask, are fully vaccinated, including boosters, and the facility is in what the agency calls “crisis” mode.
Although COVID-related deaths have increased in recent weeks, the rate of deaths is 10 times less compared to December 2020, AHCA/NCAL said. The statistic is thanks in part to high vaccination and booster rates among residents.
“We anticipated this would happen and called on long term care providers to prepare for omicron by doubling down on their efforts to get residents boosted as well as their infection prevention measures,” Dr. David Gifford, chief medical office for AHCA/NCAL and geriatrician, added in the statement.
Weekly resident COVID deaths as of Jan. 9 numbered 645 – in December 2020, that number was 6,219.
Vaccines are working, Gifford said, but the industry must “remain vigilant” on vaccinating and boosting as many residents and staff members as possible.
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