Long-term care industry facing changes as pandemic pushes more families toward home care

More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, long-term care facilities may be seeing a change in the industry as consumers shift toward home care, a new study has found.

After more than a year battling the deadly coronavirus pandemic, long-term care facilities may be seeing a change in the industry as consumers shift away from nursing homes and assisted living facilities, according to a new study published by an industry research group. Widespread distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine has reduced the spread of the virus in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, with infection rates dropping sharply. But the legacy of the virus -- which to date has killed more than 182,000 long-term care residents and staff nationwide -- may be fundamental changes to the business of long-term care. Research by The Associated Press National Opinion Research Center shows that, more than a year into the pandemic, 88% of Americans say they would rather care for elderly relatives in their own home instead of moving them into a facility. "COVID raised the fear that people already had of nursing homes and exacerbated that in terms of, are people going to want to even think about going there or placing an older relative there?" Dr. Robyn Stone, co-director of the LeadingAge Long Term Services and Supports Center at the University of Massachusetts, told ABC News. "And because of that, we are seeing a lot of providers developing models where aides actually go into people's homes."