Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable members of our communities and the most susceptible to illnesses like COVID-19. While these residents comprise just 1.2% of our country’s population, recent reporting shows they account for approximately 40% of COVID-19 deaths. The danger that poor infection control practices in nursing homes presents to tens of thousands of our fellow citizens is nothing new.
In an analysis from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), 82% of nursing homes across the country were cited for infection control problems between 2013 and 2017. Half were repeat offenders. Lack of consistent handwashing and infrequent disinfection of common areas were chief culprits. Such failures allowed illness like seasonal flu to sweep across numerous facilities. The statistics on COVID-19 infection and death rates in nursing homes illustrate the dangers to residents created by poor infection control practices.
Traditionally, there are three avenues of protection from harm for nursing home residents – (1) state level inspections and regulation required by CMS, (2) visits by family members and (3) civil liability in cases of neglect, resulting in injury and/or death. Each of these layers of protection have significantly eroded in recent months.