Ep 10. May 3, 2020

The May 3, 2020 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver delves into the topic of long-term care facilities in the United States, which have been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Oliver focuses on the systemic issues that have been present in these facilities for years, but are now even more starkly highlighted in the wake of the virus.

The episode starts with an overview of the situation in long-term care facilities, where many of the most vulnerable members of society reside: the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with serious medical conditions. Oliver notes that these facilities have been responsible for an outsized percentage of COVID-19 deaths in the US, and have become hotbeds of the virus due to a variety of factors, including cramped living conditions, understaffing, and inadequate PPE.

From there, Oliver dives into the history of long-term care in the US, explaining how the industry has changed over the years and why it is so prone to issues like the ones we are currently seeing. He highlights the role of for-profit corporations in the industry, which he argues have placed profits over people and led to a myriad of problems. These include understaffing, low pay for workers, and a culture of neglect towards residents.

Oliver also takes aim at state and federal governments, arguing that they have failed to properly regulate and oversee the long-term care industry, leading to a lack of accountability and transparency. He discusses the role of Medicaid in paying for many long-term care facilities, and notes that the program has been underfunded and undervalued for years.

Throughout the episode, Oliver weaves in stories of individuals who have been impacted by the issues in long-term care facilities. These include residents who have died of COVID-19, family members who have been unable to visit their loved ones due to the pandemic, and workers who have risked their own health to care for others. These personal stories help to highlight the human toll of a broken system.

Finally, Oliver offers some potential solutions to the problems he has outlined. These include increasing funding for Medicaid, reforming the long-term care industry to prioritize quality care over profit, and increasing public awareness of the issues facing these facilities. He also notes the importance of listening to the voices of those who are most affected by these issues - the residents, their families, and the workers who care for them.

Overall, the May 3, 2020 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver is a sobering look at the problems facing the long-term care industry. Oliver's trademark humor is still present, but is tempered by the gravity of the situation. Through his deep dive into the topic, Oliver highlights the urgent need for change and offers some potential solutions to a complex problem.