RI Seeks To Rebuild Nursing Home Infrastructure

PROVIDENCE, RI — As Rhode Island continues to rebuild in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Gina Raimondo said it's time for the state to rebuild its nursing home infrastructure. The state relies too heavily on nursing homes, she said, which have shown to be susceptible in the pandemic.

Going forward, the state needs to invest more into home-based senior care, Raimondo said, which will reduce the burden on long-term care facilities.

"This is the right direction for Rhode Island," Raimondo said. "We have been in response mode, and our facilities and staff are doing their best, but as we continue to fight this virus, we need to reduce our reliance on nursing facilities and expand home-based care options. We also need to make sure that our direct care workforce is valued in institutions and in the community with training, support and good wages."

Before the start of the pandemic, 61 percent of long-term care recipients lived in nursing homes. The state is committing $25 million to nursing care facilities for to help with infection control, capital and program changes and home-based care initiatives such as training, incentives and support.

"The pandemic exposed structural and organizational weaknesses within the long-term care system — inadequate staffing, high turn-over, low pay and lack training" said Patrick Quinn, Executive Vice President of SEIU 1199 New England. "We need to build a more resilient long-term care system that gives consumers and their families more independence when choosing a long term care setting and creates a living wage for caregivers as we rebalance our long term care system and drive more investment to direct care of the elderly and individuals living with disabilities. The status quo in nursing homes and home care is failing Rhode Island residents and families which is unacceptable."

In addition, the state will be increasing inspections at nursing homes and holding facilities accountable to high standards to ensure the health and safety of all residents.

"COVID-19’s impact on older adults and persons living with disabilities with long term care needs has been dramatic," said Maureen Maigret, the co-chair of the state’s Long Term Care Coordinating Council. "I am pleased the Governor has announced this long term supports and services resiliency plan. We need to reimagine how we deliver and finance long term care. To make home and community-based services — where persons overwhelmingly prefer to receive care -- more accessible and to support our families in assisting their loved ones to remain at home. Our nursing homes provide essential services to those with a high care needs. This plan will address the resources and workforce needed to better provide high quality, resident-centered care and nursing home care."

Tim Babineau, the CEO of Lifespan, said hospitals need to reconsider how they discharge patients.

"Historically, we’ve discharged thousands of hospital patients to nursing facilities every year. Times have changed now. Our colleagues are talking about this across the country. We need to build a system of home-based workforce and care that can work with us as we discharge patients safely to their homes to recover with the supports they need," Babineau said.

Visitation will be allowed in nursing homes again, for the first time in months, starting next week, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Rhode Island Department of Health said. Each facility has drafted an individual plan to allow safe visitation, which will likely include outdoor visits, appointments, physical distancing and mask requirements.

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