Sharing is caring—unless we’re talking about sharing nursing home staff during a pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis left a lasting mark on senior living communities, straining healthcare systems and pushing staff to the brink. And while it’s no surprise that mortality rates were higher among nursing home residents than other groups, research also makes one thing very clear: staffing patterns directly affect infection rates.

A comprehensive study using geolocation data from 50 million smartphones found that 5.1% of users who spent an hour or more in a nursing home also visited another facility—during the March 2020 visitor restrictions. That’s right. While families were barred from visiting, staff moved between buildings. These kinds of linkages became a significant predictor of outbreaks. One study published in BMC Infectious Diseases modeled how staff connections between communities could neutralize even the most careful mitigation efforts. And according to another research brief, the risk of infection was notably higher among employees working across multiple sites.

You were there. I was there. Residents were sick, staff were out, and agency help became the “new norm.” But even then, agencies struggled to deliver. Sometimes, we had signed contracts—but no one showed up. Hindsight is 20/20, and what happened in 2020 is behind us. But we need to learn from it. Instead of asking how we can keep sharing nursing home staff to fill the gaps, maybe it’s time to ask different questions: Are we doing enough to recruit and retain our own staff? Is our appreciation program making people feel valued? Are we building a workplace people want to stay in?

Because here’s the thing—happy staff don’t leave. In fact, they bring their friends. And there’s no place like home.

Stay well and stay informed!