The nursing home and assisted living industry has absorbed the tip of the deadly coronavirus’ spear. Although it has been argued that the comorbidities among advanced-age residents made a high death rate inevitable, many are not convinced nursing home staff have done all they can to protect these vulnerable populations. As nursing homes in many states scramble for immunity protections, we explore how eldercare facilities responded to testing and PPE shortages, the role communication played in the viral spread, and whether ageism may have been at play.