As COVID-19 vaccinations have become widely available, nursing homes have seen a dramatic reduction in cases—nearly a 99 percent decline among residents. Because seniors and healthcare workers were prioritized for vaccination, the immediate clinical crisis in long-term care settings has eased. With the immediate health threat more manageable, providers can now focus on longer-term consequences of the pandemic, chief among them historically low occupancy in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and post-acute care centers. To recover occupancy and improve outcomes, many providers are implementing proactive strategies that help them better serve seniors and strengthen their operations.
Long-term care facilities remain essential for aging Americans. During the pandemic, some families relied more on at-home care or informal caregiving as work patterns shifted; now that life is moving closer to pre-pandemic routines, more seniors will need formal care settings again. As residents transition back to facilities, long-term and post-acute care providers must differentiate themselves through quality, safety, and resident-centered services to restore and grow their census.
Adopting the right technologies is central to delivering coordinated care, improving resident outcomes, and reducing costs. Facilities that embrace value-based care models and invest in technology can better measure performance, manage risk, and demonstrate the quality of care they provide. Technology also enables facilities to become stronger partners for residents, families, referral sources, payers, and the communities they serve.
Several technology tools and data resources can support facilities as they recover and adapt in the post-pandemic environment. Key tools include clinical assessment systems, benchmarking reports, and quality rating frameworks that guide decision-making and continuous improvement.
One foundational resource is the Minimum Data Set (MDS) combined with the Continuity Assessment Record and Evaluation (CARE) Item Set. These assessment instruments help identify resident needs and potential care issues, enabling personalized and effective care plans. Long-term care providers pride themselves on individualized care, and MDS/CARE supports that mission by ensuring plans are accurate, complete, and actionable.
Benchmarking and audit tools help facilities spot trends and prioritize improvements. The Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) gives skilled nursing facilities insight into how their billing and care patterns compare with peer institutions in their region. By highlighting areas of potential vulnerability, PEPPER empowers providers to act proactively and correct course before problems escalate. Complementing PEPPER, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Five-Star Quality Rating provides a public, comparative measure of nursing home performance. Regular internal audits against the Five-Star quality measures help staff maintain compliance and improve scores ahead of state surveys.
Beyond specific tools, the pandemic presents an opportunity for facilities to reassess their broader technology strategy. Providers should evaluate how to maximize existing resources, improve interoperability and connectivity across systems, and plan for scalable solutions that meet future needs. Investments that simplify workflows, enhance communication with families and referral partners, and support data-driven clinical decision-making will pay dividends in resident well-being and operational resilience.
Occupancy may be at an all-time low today, but facilities that adapt—by strengthening clinical practices, leveraging assessment and benchmarking tools, and modernizing technology—can recover and thrive as demand returns. Thoughtful, proactive approaches will not only restore census but also improve the quality of care and strengthen trust with residents, families, and the broader healthcare ecosystem.
Sources
https://www.providermagazine.com/Topics/Special-Features/Pages/Becoming-a-Proactive-Provider-in-a-Value-based-World.aspx
https://www.providermagazine.com/Topics/Special-Features/Pages/Recouping-Business-Post-COVID-19.aspx
https://www.providermagazine.com/Topics/Guest-Columns/Pages/Opportunities-For-Nursing-Homes-Top-Ten-Tools-For-Success.aspx