OHCA 2022 Oregon Long Term Care State Report

www.ohca.com Oregon Health Care Association 13 this, direct comparisons between the Oregon and national data should be made with caution. Vaccine Mandates As of July 2022, Oregon continues to be one of a handful of states that requires COVID-19 vaccinations for all long term care facility staff, allowing only for medical and religious exceptions that meet certain criteria. All nursing facility staff nationwide are subject to vaccine requirements via federal mandate. Residents are in no way required to be vaccinated, though Oregon facilities have worked hard to provide a variety of avenues (onsite and offsite) for their residents to easily receive initial doses and booster shots if desired. Longer Term Impacts Clinical The pandemic required many changes to the provision of care in Oregon’s long term care communities. For example, infection prevention efforts were enhanced significantly and regular testing of staff and residents continues to be required when new COVID-19 cases are detected. Additionally, the use of telehealth to provide remote services to residents have been implemented across long term care providers in Oregon with great succes, along with the advancement of other technologies to improve care. Many of these innovative changes, including the wider use of telehealth, were already beginning to take place prior to the pandemic; however, their adoption took place at light speed as the pandemic upended the sector. Policy Many regulatory policies were put in place during the course of the pandemic in order to protect residents and staff from the spread of COVID-19. These ever changing—and sometimes contradictory— requirements at the local, state, and federal levels often challenged Oregon’s provider community to keep pace and remain in compliance. The establishment of new regulatory measures has slowed in recent months. However, the importance of clear guidance and uniform enforcement of regulations is essential for providing care safely. Over the course of the pandemic, many investments have been made by state and federal policymakers to enhance access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and increase worker wages including a onetime bonus incentive for Oregon nursing facility staff at certain income levels. These investments have been a lifeline to workers and providers during the pandemic. Workforce While the pandemic has roiled the economy and workforce worldwide, the long term care sector has experienced some of the most challenging workforce issues of any industry. In spite of a critical need for a larger caregiving workforce to meet the care needs of our aging society, nursing facilities, assisted living, and residential care have seen more than a five percent drop in total workers since 2019.13 The reasons for the decline are complicated, and the accumulated burdens of the pandemic have led many to leave the sector. These changes point to the increased need to invest and support a welltrained workforce that can meet the demand for an increasingly aged society.

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