Nursing Home Access Declining Due to Staffing Shortages, Study Finds

Nursing Home Access Declining Due to Staffing Shortages, Study Finds

A new AHCA/NCAL (American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living)-backed study finds that access to nursing home care is declining more sharply than previously estimated, driven largely by ongoing staffing shortages.

Skilled nursing facility capacity decreased by about 5% between 2019 and 2024, with some regions experiencing double-digit declines. Researchers also noted that licensed bed counts may overstate real availability, since staffing limits often prevent full use of existing capacity.

“When nursing homes can’t find caregivers, access to care is directly impacted for residents and families.”

The study also points to wider system impacts, including delayed hospital discharges and increased pressure on post-acute care networks, with rural areas among the hardest hit.

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