They’re also dying because of a more entrenched epidemic: the devaluation of older lives. In few areas is the disconnect between law and practice so striking as in nursing homes. When inspectors find that a facility has violated regulations designed to protect residents, states rarely impose a fine. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, the federal agency responsible for overseeing nursing homes, has waived training requirements for caregivers and indefinitely suspended most nursing home inspections. Inequalities rooted in ageism have caused the coronavirus to spread, and many policy responses take for granted that older lives are worth less than younger ones.

Source: Washington Post May 08, 2020 12:50 UTC