How Senior Living Has Changed Since COVID-19 Began
Working with seniors requires the heart of a servant. Or at least that is what I believe it takes to celebrate the good moments and endure through the hard stuff. In my 25 years of service to seniors there are none more difficult than the pandemic. The most frightening thing was leaving for work not knowing if or when I would be coming home. Several changes of clothes were a staple in my car. Everything from caregiving, meal service, housekeeping and social programming changed overnight in senior living.
When COVID-19 began to tear through nursing homes, assisted living and hospitals, older adults were targeted because of their vulnerable health status. These facilities faced extraordinary challenges during the early waves of the pandemic. At that time, I was working in a Minneapolis assisted living facility. I’ve often described the situation as living in an ongoing severe storm warning. We knew that COVID-19 would come, but we did not know when. It was said that when there was one positive case there were four or more you did not know about. Now five years later, it’s time to look back and review what has changed in long-term care since COVID-19 began.
A New Focus on Infection Control
In the early days of the pandemic nursing homes and assisted living communities struggled to obtain protective equipment. People were coming to work with fabric masks sewn together by community volunteers. Wearing face shields in addition to the masks was mandatory for all health care workers. The problem was they were not readily available.
Before COVID-19, infection control in long-term care settings was important, but often underfunded and inconsistently implemented. The pandemic exposed how vulnerable residents in these settings were to infectious diseases. As a result, facilities have since overhauled their hygiene protocols. Routine use of personal protective equipment (PPE) has become more common. Several Minneapolis care facilities created private rooms to stop the spread of the disease. Some facilities added specialized air exchange equipment. Additionally, regulatory bodies have increased oversight, requiring detailed pandemic preparedness and response plans.
Greater Use of Technology
A resident in my assisted living facility turned 100 years old while we were on lockdown. Harvey was not able to leave the facility, and his family was unable to come inside. We opened a window so they could converse through it. His great granddaughter was prancing around outside in a bright colored dress. At one point she put her hand on the window and Harvey did too. The picture of the two is etched into my heart.
The isolation caused by lockdowns highlighted the importance of technology in maintaining connections. Facilities rapidly adopted video conferencing tools to allow residents to communicate with family and healthcare providers. Telehealth has also become a staple, enabling remote consultations that reduce exposure risk while improving access to medical specialists. Robots were introduced to some Saint Paul assisted living communities to help with meal service.
Workforce Challenges and Innovations
COVID-19 pushed an already strained long-term care workforce to its limits. Staff shortages, burnout, and low wages became critical issues. People were resigning from their jobs and or taking a leave of absence to care for their own families. When a staff person was diagnosed with the illness they could be out of work for months at a time before returning. There were days when I found myself as the leader providing care, delivering meals or cleaning to fill staffing gaps.
In response, many assisted living and nursing homes increased pay, introduced retention bonuses, and invested in better training and mental health support. Fortunately, the staffing shortages have improved over time.
Resident-Centered Care and Quality of Life
The emotional toll of prolonged isolation during the pandemic brought renewed focus to residents’ mental and emotional well-being. Long-term care providers are now placing more emphasis on quality of life. This includes creating more flexible visitation policies, and redesigning activities and environments to be more engaging and stimulating.
COVID-19 was a wake-up call for long-term care. It revealed deep vulnerabilities but also catalyzed meaningful changes. From improved infection control and technology use to workforce reforms and a shift toward home-based care, the long-term care system is slowly transforming into one that is more resilient, responsive, and person-centered. While challenges remain, the lessons learned have laid a foundation for a stronger future in caring for our aging population.