In fact, experts like Taylor think testing at nursing homes needs to be for everybody, not just people with symptoms, to get ahead of the curve.
Staffing issues
"That includes the workers," Taylor said. "Workers in nursing homes are at risk of occupational exposure. They also are a risk of bringing infection into the nursing home from the community and taking it out."
Funding for additional staff at nursing homes also would help bolster infection control, experts said.
It takes a lot of time to put on a mask, gown up and properly wash hands when going from patient to patient, said Eleanor Schildwachter McConnell, an associate professor in the Duke University School of Nursing.
"It stands to reason that if you're starting out with a very thin level of staffing, it's going to be hard to take those precautions and continue to provide very demanding care," McConnell said, noting that more hands on deck will take the pressure off.
Unfortunately, once people start testing positive at a nursing home, staff have tended to start walking off the job, Robinson-Lane said.
"Nursing homes are already challenged with staffing concerns, and we've seen a chance of 15% reduction in staff after COVID patients come in," Robinson-Lane said.
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Even before COVID-19 the average third shift at a USA nursing home had 40% average absenteeism. Nursing Home Management typically reported 20% in prior years on the “honor system” but a recent Federal law change allowed HHS to have access to IRS FICA tax records, that proved the actual missed 3rd shift hours were at 40%.
