·Pulse issue · September 1, 2026
California’s paused home-care funds and persistent nursing-home staffing shortfalls show that families can face uncertainty in both major care settings.
The question
As home-based and nursing-home care face separate pressures, what care setting can families count on?
Background
California’s In-Home Supportive Services helps people receive care at home. Nursing homes rely on enough nurse staffing to meet residents’ clinical needs.
The read
Pulse’s read is that California’s paused home-care funds put its In-Home Supportive Services program at risk for cuts, while LTCCC reports that most nursing homes had staffing below expected levels in Q1 2026.
2 developments · 2 cited sources
What happens next
Will the Trump administration release the paused Medicaid funds for California’s In-Home Supportive Services?
What could change this read
A federal decision on the California funds or newer federal staffing data showing a material change in nursing-home staffing would materially change this issue read.
Developments in this issue
The Trump administration has paused $1.7 billion for California’s In-Home Supportive Services while new federal staffing data show broad nursing-home shortfalls.
PolicyWorkforceDisabilityElder Care
LTCCC’s analysis of Q1 2026 federal staffing data found that nursing homes averaged 24.6% less nurse staffing than expected for resident needs.
WorkforceElder Care
Reference paths