A culture of safety in nursing homes has been linked to improved resident care. The authors describe how the alignment of regulatory oversight and surveys could integrate with just culture to improve resident safety.  

This commentary discusses the provision of safe care in long-term care settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors propose the following measures to ensure the safety of long-term care patients: facilities should only accept patients with COVID-19 infections if they can provide effective airborne isolation; patients recovering from COVID-19 need to have 2 negative tests on 2 consecutive days, as well as remain fever-free without mediation for at least 48 hours and not require ventilatory support that generates aerosols; facilities should screen potential admissions for typical and atypical signs and symptoms of COVID-19, and; facilities that are currently COVID-19 naïve should not accept any new admissions for whom there may be a concern for COVID-19.