TRENDS
the pandemic, have left long-term care
any sort of competitive edge they would
options available. This also perpetuates
providers struggling to compete for
need to hire new people. Crawford said
the vicious cycle with COVID surges.
qualified staff.
they “cannot compete with other health-
It’s also important to remember that this
care settings, like hospitals, that can offer
isn’t a problem that’s going to resolve itself.
better pay and benefits.”
There will always be an elderly population
Parkinson said, “We desperately need the help of policymakers to attract and retain more caregivers so that our nation’s
This isn’t a new issue. Long-term
that will need to be cared for, whether there
most vulnerable have access to the long-
care has faced staffing challenges for
are places to provide that care or not. “If
term care they need.”
years, and the pandemic has only made
policymakers do not act, the consequences
it worse. Crawford said, “Workforce
will be devastating and could result in nurs-
recruitment and retention has been an
ing home closures, which will ultimately
Why workers are leaving
ongoing challenge prior to the pandemic,
affect access to care that our nation’s seniors
To put it simply, long-term care providers
and we have been calling for help for
need and deserve,” Crawford said.
are exhausted. As we have seen over the
years. Now, the pandemic has exacer-
last two years, when a workforce is un-
bated our workforce challenges, and we
derstaffed, it creates a trickle-down effect
are in a full-blown crisis.”
The path forward For long-term care providers to begin
throughout the whole industry. Long-
the road to recovery, Crawford said they
term care facilities have trouble with staffing workers, which creates an unnecessary
The effects on the residents
would need immediate assistance from
strain on those who are working, which
When healthcare workers suffer, the
federal and state public health officials
further perpetuates this cyclical nightmare
patients suffer. Without a stable option
to support the frontlines and prioritize
of exhaustion that so many are experienc-
in place, residents and families are often
resources for long-term care providers.
ing right now.
left to find care alternatives that are less
Crawford also argued for a long-term solution to “help recruit and retain the next generation of caregivers and to prepare
“ We desperately need the help of policymakers to attract and retain more caregivers so that our nation’s most vulnerable have access to the long-term care they need.”
for a growing elderly population.” “Policy makers must act and support the multi-tiered workforce proposals we have put forth in our reform agenda, the Care for Our Seniors Act,” Crawford said. “These proposals include assistance programs for caregivers like affordable housing and childcare, tax credits, loan
than optimal. Losing these workers is a
forgiveness, and incentives for higher
Public Affairs for the American Health
dangerous prospect for the residents and
learning institutions to train the next
Care Association, said, “This pandemic has
patients of long-term care providers.
generation of healthcare heroes.”
Cristina Crawford, Senior Manager,
taken an enormous toll on our staff and
“The workforce crisis threatens access
State and federal policy makers also
residents. Not only have many experienced
to care for vulnerable seniors,” Crawford
need to do things like fully fund Medicaid,
tremendous losses, but it has also been
said. “More than half of nursing homes
which would allow long-term care provid-
exhausting – physically and emotionally –
are limiting new admissions because of
ers to invest in their workforce and have
battling this virus day in and day out.”
staffing shortages.” Not only are the
a competitive hiring edge. “The strategies
families put in a difficult position regard-
laid out in the Care for Our Seniors Act
left and right. Additionally, Crawford
ing the safety and care of their loved
offer a comprehensive approach to recruit
described long-term care providers as
ones, but hospitals are unable to discharge
more health care heroes to help solve this
“chronically underfunded,” which limits
patients if there are no long-term care
workforce crisis,” Crawford said.
Essential workers are dropping
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March 2022 | The Journal of Healthcare Contracting
