COVID-19 in Assisted Living: Protecting a Critical Long-Term Care Resource

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected assisted living (AL) communities, a key component of long-term care (LTC).
• AL settings faced unique challenges due to varied regulations, personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement issues, reduced family involvement, and lower clinical staffing levels.
• Limited national data exists on AL's COVID-19 experience due to state-level regulation.

Approach:

• This article reviews existing knowledge on COVID-19 cases, deaths, infection control, and impacts on residents and staff within AL.
• It links suggested actions to the Assisted Living Workgroup (ALW) recommendations and assesses the implementation of Center for Excellence in Assisted Living (CEAL) ALW report recommendations.
• The review examines how implemented or absent recommendations influenced AL's pandemic preparedness.

Key Points:

• Assisted living facilities experienced unique pandemic challenges, including regulatory variations and staffing differences.
• Analysis of past recommendations reveals gaps in preparedness for infectious disease outbreaks.
• Key areas for improvement include state-level data reporting, staff training, and research-provider partnerships.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced state-level reporting, consistent staff training, and robust research-provider collaborations are vital for AL pandemic preparedness.
• Implementing a holistic model of care and addressing staff work-life balance are essential for improving resilience.
• Policy, practice, and research advancements are necessary to strengthen assisted living's response to future health crises.