No more nursing homes? Changes in consumer preferences for long-term care facilities following COVID-19

Abstract

Since the first COVID-19 case was discovered in December 2019, over 12.1 million cases have been reported in more than 188 countries and territories. In the USA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed almost 3.05 million COVID-19 cases, with more than 132 000 deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a particularly dramatic impact on the elderly and those with chronic underlying medical disorders. Before the second outbreak in July, long-term care facilities were the most severely affected in terms of case numbers, especially nursing homes. This article provides information and insight into the potential changes in consumer preferences toward long-term care facility selection and the possible structural change of the long-term care industry in three aspects; structure, conduct and performance.