Facilities fail to replace workers who quit after COVID outbreaks

Most nursing homes lost more than half their nurses and aides last year, which could complicate President Joe Biden’s push to increase staffing.

Nursing home staffs shrunk in the weeks and months after severe COVID-19 outbreaks, according to a new study, and federal data shows most facilities lost more than half their nurses and aides in the past year.

The study found facilities have struggled to refill openings, particularly among certified nursing assistants, who provide most bedside care – findings that both complicate and underscore the need for President Joe Biden’s push to establish nationwide staffing-level requirements.