Analysis: Nursing home patient capacities have shrunk, with rural areas posting the greatest decreases

Rural areas had the greatest declines in available nursing
home beds since 2019. (Pixabay photo via Medical Express) 

Despite the rapidly aging U.S. population, nursing home capacity has shrunk nationwide since 2019. According to Sadie Harley for the University of Rochester Medical Center, a recently published study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that 25% of U.S. counties "experienced decreases in the number of supported nursing home spots by 15% or more," with rural areas reporting the greatest declines.

The dwindling number of nursing home placements for older Americans translates into "nearly 4,000 fewer beds available for new patients each day," Harley writes. "But this decline was not felt by all communities equally. It varied widely across geographic regions, with rural counties more likely to face declines of 25% or more."

Rural communities are already grappling with fewer physicians, hospital closures and strained emergency medical services. The loss of nursing home spots presents another challenge, leaving more rural residents with few other options than to travel farther for ongoing care.

Within the U.S. medical system, nursing homes provide vital care to seniors who need regular medical treatment but don't require the expertise of hospital services. They also offer interim care for patients leaving the hospital who aren't yet ready to care for themselves at home. Harley explains, "The reduction in nursing home capacity was linked to longer hospital stays, especially extended stays of 28 days or more."

The decline in nursing home care spots isn't a reflection of the number of beds a facility has. Harley adds, "This study estimated nursing homes' operating capacity by taking other resource constraints into account." Study author Brian McGarry, told Harley, "The facility may not have the staff or other resources to fill every bed."