SOUTH CAROLINA – AARP recently renewed its call to protect nursing homes as the latest release of the AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard finds continuing staff and PPE shortages in South Carolina’s nursing homes. South Carolina’s nursing homes have received over $60 million of federal funds.
AARP South Carolina also thanked Gov. Henry McMaster for his administration’s proactive actions to protect nursing home residents and staff from the coronavirus.
“Gov. McMaster saw the danger developing for vulnerable nursing home residents and took decisive action to keep residents safe, connected to loved ones, and to maintain transparency in nursing home reporting,” said AARP South Carolina State Director Teresa Arnold. “Although this data can show no causation, we think the trends are moving in the right direction.”
The initial AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard data showed South Carolina had the highest death rate in the nation for nursing home residents and was above the national average in all five key measures.
However, the latest release of the data finds South Carolina nursing homes improved to nearly the national average for all five measures: resident COVID-19 death rates, resident COVID-19 case rates, percentage of facilities without a one week supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), percentage of facilities with staffing shortages, and staff COVID-19 case rates.
How the data is collected
Using data released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services—which is self-reported by nursing homes—the AARP Public Policy Institute, in collaboration with the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami University in Ohio, created the AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard to provide four-week snapshots of the virus’ infiltration into nursing homes and impact on nursing home residents and staff.
This second dashboard aggregates and analyzes data from nursing homes covering three 4-week time intervals from mid-summer into fall: July 26-Aug. 23, Aug. 24-Sept. 20, and Sept. 21-Oct. 18.
What the data shows
For the period from Sept. 21-Oct. 18, AARP’s dashboard reports that South Carolina nursing homes had:
- 0.58 COVID-19 deaths per 100 residents, down from 1.2
- 4.3 COVID-19 cases per 100 residents, down from 5.8 in the previous four-week period
- 2.9 staff COVID-19 cases per 100 residents, down from 4.1
- 34.1% of nursing homes without a 1-week supply of PPE, down from 19.5%
- 35.2% of nursing homes with staffing shortages, down from 30.8%
“More than 1,000 South Carolina nursing home residents and staff have already died of COVID-19 representing about 38% of all COVID-19 deaths, and still facilities don’t have the PPE and staffing needed to protect residents,” said Arnold. “This is a tragedy that must be addressed.”
AARP calls for plan of action
AARP has called for the enactment of a plan to protect nursing home and long-term care facility residents:
- Prioritize regular and ongoing testing and adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for residents and staff—as well as inspectors and any visitors.
- Improve transparency focused on daily, public reporting of cases and deaths in facilities; communication with families about discharges and transfers; and accountability for state and federal funding that goes to facilities.
- Ensure access to in-person visitation following federal and state guidelines for safety, and require continued access to virtual visitation for all residents.
- Ensure quality care for residents through adequate staffing, oversight, and access to in-person formal advocates, called long-term care Ombudsmen.
- Reject immunity for long-term care facilities related to COVID-19.
AARP South Carolina credits Gov. McMaster for aggressively and effectively addressing almost every point of the five-point plan.
Arnold added, “COVID-19 is still spreading in the community. While nursing home cases and deaths have fallen, continuing shortages of staff and PPE mean these facilities might not be prepared for another wave. South Carolina nursing homes have received nearly $60 million in state and federal funding intended to keep residents safe, but too many measures continue to move in the wrong direction. Gov. McMaster must hold facilities accountable and ensure our taxpayer dollars are used to save lives.”
The side effects of staff, PPE shortages
Staff and PPE shortages jeopardize the ability of nursing homes to continue in-person visitation. Loneliness and isolation can have serious health consequences, and many residents have been unable to visit with their loved ones for months. The approaching holiday season will only make this time apart more heartbreaking.
The AARP Nursing Home COVID-19 Dashboard will continue to be updated every four weeks. The complete dashboard is available at aarp.org/nursinghomedashboard.
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