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Should You Take a Loved One Out of a Long-Term Care Facility?

Many Americans are wondering whether a loved one should stay in an assisted living facility or be taken elsewhere due to the coronavirus. RAND researchers and other experts have some guidance for those weighing this difficult decision. For most people in long-term care facilities, the answer is to stay put, they say. But leaving temporarily could offer benefits for some. If you're facing this dilemma, the experts recommend questions to ask the facility—and yourself. Read more »

Children pick up lunch at Olympic Hills Elementary School, Seattle, Washington, March 17, 2020. Photo by Brian Snyder/Reuters

Food Access Challenges Amid the Pandemic

In the United States, 14.3 million households were already experiencing food insecurity before the pandemic. COVID-19 shutdowns and restrictions have exacerbated this problem, leaving children, seniors, and workers who are vital to the food supply chain among the most vulnerable. Fortunately, there are tremendous efforts underway to make sure that people struggling with food insecurity aren't forgotten, say RAND researchers. But there are a few new strategies that policymakers and community leaders should consider, too. Read more »

The U.S. Navy hospital ship Comfort passes the Statue of Liberty as it enters New York Harbor, March 30, 2020. Photo by Mike Segar/Reuters

After COVID-19, Reengage, Don't Retreat

Should the United States become further integrated with the global community after COVID-19? Or should it make permanent some of the barriers that have been erected to fight the pandemic? RAND experts argue that, while there are downsides to globalization, it offers economic gains and enhances the ability to solve big problems—including pandemics—through collective responses. What's more, closing America off to the world would leave it more vulnerable to the next big shock. Read more »

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Online Learning Doesn't Have to Be Impersonal

Both educators and parents are getting a lot of guidance on how to teach students whose classrooms are suddenly at home and online. But kids' needs aren't just academic. It's also important to support their social and emotional well-being—especially during this difficult time. Our experts have highlighted some insights from past RAND research that may help school staff and leadership ensure that social and emotional needs don't go overlooked. One key is to elevate the importance of one-on-one interactions between teachers and students. Read more »

A man walks near the Shalamcha Border Crossing, after Iraq shut borders to travelers moving between Iraq and Iran, March 8, 2020. Photo by Essam Al Sudani/Reuters

How Will the Pandemic Affect the Middle East?

COVID-19 is sure to have transformational effects everywhere—including the Middle East. But the outbreak is unlikely to produce new strategic dynamics in the region, says RAND's Dalia Dassa Kaye. Rather, the crisis will likely reinforce negative trends that already exist. These include tensions between the United States and Iran, increased Chinese and Russian engagement in the Middle East, and humanitarian catastrophes. And although there is a possibility of some diplomatic openings in the wake of this pandemic, the Middle East is likely to remain on a bleak strategic path, says Kaye. Read more »