After analyzing data through Sept. 20, AARP found the state outperformed the national average across three categories: nursing home resident cases, resident deaths and home staff cases.
Here is a breakdown of how Colorado’s “per 100” averages compared to the rest of the country:
- For nursing home resident cases, Colorado reported 1 per 100 residents compared to the U.S. average of 2.6 per 100 residents.
- Colorado’s nursing home deaths averaged 0.17 per 100 residents versus the national average of 0.48.
- Colorado had 0.9 staff cases compared to the national state average of 2.5 per 100 residents.
State officials credit the decreased numbers to their Residential Care Strike Team, a group launched in April dedicated to reducing the spread of illness and deaths across group-living facilities.
“We have made tremendous progress reducing COVID-19 cases in long-term care facilities, thanks in large part to decisive action taken by the Residential Care Strike Team back in May,” said Randy Kuykendall, director of health facilities at Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment. “The Strike Team will continue to meet and make recommendations for as long as the virus remains a threat in group-living settings.”
To view state-by-state COVID-19 data on the AARP’s Nursing Home Dashboard, click here.
More articles on post-acute care:
US News names 2020-21 Best Nursing Homes: 5 things to know
Kansas nursing home booted from Medicare program after COVID-19 outbreak, deaths
23 New York nursing homes fined $328K for COVID-19 safety violations
