Advocates Say Illinois Should Learn From COVID Crisis On Long-Term Care And Nursing Shortage
Credit Creative Commons Elder care advocates are urging state lawmakers to reduce the number of Illinoisans receiving long-term care at nursing homes after a study showing many of Illinois’ early COVID-19 deaths occurred at facilities that were both overcrowded and understaffed. According to 2017 data reported by the AARP, 10% of residents living in Illinois nursing homes have “low care needs”, which is higher than the 8.9% national average. Nursing home critics say because a number of facilities struggled to control viral transmissions among residents during the pandemic, the state s...