Our state is facing a crisis that demands immediate attention from our legislators: the alarming rate of closures of nursing homes and residential care facilities.

Since 2014, approximately 50 such facilities have shut their doors or downsized their operations. These closures are not isolated incidents; they are symptomatic of a larger systemic issue fueled by low reimbursement rates, soaring inflation, and rising labor costs.

As the executive director of the Odd Fellows’ & Rebekahs’ Home of Maine, a nonprofit residential care and nursing facility in Auburn, I know these struggles all too well as we are forced to navigate them every day.

Maine’s long-term care sector is in a perfect storm. The costs of caring for our beloved older adults have skyrocketed while reimbursement rates have failed to keep pace. The result? In 2022 alone, the nursing home sector faced a shortfall of $96.5 million, while residential care and assisted living facilities experienced a $24.3 million deficit.

Maine, with its aging population and status as the oldest state in the nation, stands at a critical juncture. Nearly 70% of older adults will require long term care supports and service at some point in their lives. Yet, the dwindling access to such care is alarming. Hancock County, for instance, now lacks any nursing homes, and other regions are poised to follow suit.

Repercussions from these closures are profound. Residents and their families are enduring emotional distress, while increased travel times strains already vulnerable populations. Closures and downsizings are rippling through communities, leaving vulnerable populations without essential services, and families must face difficult decisions. And it is costing jobs, as many facilities are a major employer in their community.

Hospitals are facing backlogs from individuals awaiting long-term care placements, which further exacerbates pressures on our healthcare system. Extended hospitalization is a much more significant financial burden to the state than long-term care, and hospitals cannot address the social needs of those awaiting placement.

We cannot afford to stand idly by as nursing homes and residential care facilities vanish from our communities. The Legislature must take immediate action by increasing MaineCare reimbursement rates and providing sustained funding to address this crisis. With federal matching funds available, there is an opportunity to leverage resources and safeguard the future of long-term care in Maine.

The urgent nature of the situation is clear. Maine’s long-term care facilities aren’t just buildings; they are homes. They are havens of care, compassion and dignity for our older adults. Yet, these essential institutions are under threat, facing financial instability that jeopardizes the well-being of countless individuals and families across our state.

This dire situation has brought together a coalition of diverse organizations to join the “Who Will Care?” coalition. From our hospitals to leading advocacy organizations, this diverse coalition recognizes the impact of these closures and is advocating to increase funding for long-term care facilities. Since the coalition’s launch, nurses, family members, and a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers have spoken up about the urgent need to address funding shortfalls.

The urgency of this moment cannot be overstated. We owe it to our older adults, our communities, and ourselves to confront this crisis head-on and chart a course toward a future where quality long-term care is not a luxury but a fundamental right.

As legislators consider the path forward, they must listen to the voices of those most affected by their decisions. They must recognize that investing in long-term care is not just a fiscal responsibility but a moral imperative.

By increasing MaineCare reimbursement rates to levels that allow facilities to remain open, and committing to sustained funding, we can strengthen our long-term care infrastructure, ensuring that long-term care services remain available to our elderly population and to ourselves as we age.

John Bolduc, the executive director of Odd Fellows’ and Rebekahs’ Home of Maine since 1995, has over 35 years of long-term care experience. He serves as vice chairman on the board of directors of the Maine Health Care Association.

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