By Dan Hounsell, Senior Editor, Facility Market

Institutional and commercial facilities of all kinds have struggled in the last 18 months to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many of the nation’s long-term care facilities, though, the impact amounts to a matter of survival.

Only one-quarter of the officials running these facilities think that those institutions will still be here by this time next year, according to a survey of about 1,400 such facilities by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL). The 

AHCA/NCAL survey also found that 94 percent of nursing homes face serious staffing shortages, according to Infection Control Today. Other survey findings:

• Almost one-half of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are operating at a loss.

• Eighty-four percent of nursing homes are losing revenue this year because fewer post-acute patients are coming to them from hospitals.

• More than one-half of nursing homes and assisted living communities have had to make staff cuts this year because of increased expenses or lost revenue.

• Whether the facilities have had to care for COVID-19 patients or not, the top three costs incurred include more pay for staff, hiring more staff, and purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE).