Maine's long-term care facilities face severe staffing challenges due to labor shortage and COVID-19, resulting in 20% nursing home closures and loss of 63,000 beds.

Maine's long-term care facilities face significant staffing challenges due to a labor shortage, worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has led to the closure of units in about 20% of nursing homes in the U.S., resulting in a loss of 63,000 beds. With Maine's aging population expected to nearly double by 2040, the state currently lacks around 2,200 registered nurses, intensifying the crisis in resident care quality.