Report: Long-Term Care Facilities Faced Confusion, Conflicting Guidance

The early days of the COVID-19 pandemic were confusing times for Delaware long-term care facilities. They could have received clearer guidance and assistance from the state, according to a new special report from State Auditor Kathy McGuiness.

To read the report and its six recommendations, please CLICK HERE

According to McGuiness, long-term care administrators were surveyed and interviewed and state and federal COVID-19 data was analyzed in compiling the report. The report determined that administrators inquired with state and federal officials about what they felt was confusing and sometimes conflicting guidance, and their questions were often not answered in a timely manner.

The report also showed that information changed frequently, came from several sources, was difficult to interpret or sometimes was completely missing. Health officials were found to have ‘worked diligently’ to provide guidance to long-term care facilities since the start of the pandemic.

“Long-term care facility residents are among those most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic,” McGuiness said. “Regardless of whether you look at state or federal data, that much is clear.”

“I applaud Delaware’s health officials for their tireless work over the last year to guide Delawareans through this pandemic,” McGuiness added. “This special report is meant to help state health officials see specific areas related to long-term care facilities so they can improve their communication, guidance and data reporting to provide an accurate picture of how these facilities’ residents and staff are being affected.”