NEWS

Communicating About Nursing Home Care: Findings and Emerging Recommendations

Apr 13, 2022

Soon after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact on nursing homes was thrust into the spotlight. As people began to think and talk more about nursing home residents and the care workforce, many existing narratives of nursing homes were reinforced–that they are underfunded, understaffed, and ill-equipped to provide high-quality care.

The problems affecting nursing homes existed long before COVID-19, but the narratives surrounding these problems have impeded the very policies that could improve conditions for residents and caregivers alike.

This brief from the FrameWorks Institute (the organization behind the “Reframing Aging” research and communication tools) and supported by the John A. Hartford Foundation outlines six key findings on how the public and those in the field think about nursing homes, along with initial communications recommendations to move public thinking on potential structural changes in how nursing homes exist and operate.

Those familiar with Reframing Aging will recognize some of the findings on public perceptions around aging and healthcare support for older adults.

For more information about framing the conversation around nursing home care, see the research brief from the FrameWorks Institute here and contact info@frameworksinstitute.org.