How can we identify a better approach for Oklahoma's long-te

How can we identify a better approach for Oklahoma's long-term care?


JoeAnn Vermillion
Guest columnist
As encouraging trends of statewide COVID-19 data emerge, Oklahomans are beginning to sigh breaths of relief. We have all observed the data over the last 13 months in horror: nationally, the virus killed more than 182,000 nursing home residents and staff of other long-term care facilities. To date, 1,600 Oklahoma nursing home residents and staff have died from COVID-19. Many of these deaths were exacerbated by ongoing issues in long-term care facilities such as poor infection control and staffing shortages.
Though quality issues existed in nursing homes well before the COVID-19 pandemic, it highlights the need to reimagine and reform how older Oklahomans receive care. Oklahoma ranked among the lowest in the nation for nursing home quality of care as recently as 2018. Our state currently ranks second nationally for low-care need nursing home residents who could be better served in home-based settings.

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