September 22, 2026- Nursing facilities faced unprecedented financial challenges during the pandemic. The impacts of COVID-19 resulted in lower occupancy rates and revenue in nursing homes, higher operating costs and exacerbation of existing staffing shortages, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
After historic job losses in recent years, the nursing workforce is now slowly recovering and stabilizing, according to the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living’s (AHCA/NCAL) 2026 Nursing Home Workforce Report. Ongoing access to long-term care, however, remains a growing concern as the nation’s aging population continues to grow.
“The aging population is growing rapidly, and demand for long-term care is expected to rise significantly in the coming years,” according to the AHCA/NCAL. “We need to support the entire continuum of care because each long-term care setting has a valuable role to play. The most cost-effective and life-affirming setting for a senior is the one best suited to their needs.”
Workforce shortages
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) are the primary provider of institutional post-acute care in the U.S., according to the JAMA study “Changes in US Skilled Nursing Facility Capacity Following the COVID-19 Pandemic.” SNFs provide transitional care, such as ongoing patient care after recovery from an illness, injury or surgery. SNFs often also include rehabilitative services for patients.
On the other hand, nursing home care, also known as long-term residential care, focuses on managing patient’s chronic conditions and providing ongoing daily living assistance such as with tasks like dressing, bathing or eating.
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