For decades, nursing homes have struggled with staffing shortages and outdated training models. But what if we could change that?

The Teaching Nursing Home Collaborative is an innovative program connecting schools of nursing with nursing homes to provide better training, improve workforce development, and enhance residents' quality of life. This initiative, which started in Pennsylvania, is now expanding nationwide.

According to Nancy Zients, Chief Program & Strategy Officer at the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, the project was born out of the devastation of COVID-19 in nursing homes. "We knew there had to be a better way," she explains.

Rather than simply increasing staff numbers, the program focuses on smarter training, interdisciplinary teamwork, and student engagement—bringing a fresh perspective to long-term care.

Kim Ratliff, Director of Nursing at Wesleyan Hans Living Main Line, highlights the program’s resident-centered focus. "We’re improving quality of life by paying attention to what matters most—mentality, mobility, medications, and personal interests."

Traditionally, nursing students get little exposure to nursing homes. Taylor McMahon, Director of Nursing at The Willows, notes that many students enter the program with misconceptions. "Once they experience long-term care firsthand, they see the depth of the work and the relationships they can build."

The program has already led to new hires, with students choosing to stay in long-term care after graduation.

With successful pilot programs in Pennsylvania, the Teaching Nursing Home Collaborative is now expanding. The goal? Transform nursing homes across the country into centers of learning, quality care, and professional development.