Business of long-term care ‘has never been worse’ as occupancy, staffing challenges continue

October 12, 2022

NASHVILLE, TN — With the clinical issues of COVID-19 largely behind the long-term care industry, the business side “has never been worse,” according to American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living President and CEO Mark Parkinson.

Speaking to the media Tuesday during the AHCA/NCAL Conference & Expo, Parkinson said that a year ago, many in the industry hoped to see a complete recovery by the end of 2022 or early 2023.

“It’s very clear that’s not the case,” he said, adding that it could take to the end of 2023 or even into 2024 before occupancy recovers.

Two challenges, he said, are preventing that recovery: occupancy and workforce.

Census remains below prepandemic levels for both assisted living and skilled nursing, with both sectors still lagging by 5%.

Read the full story from McKnight’s here.