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Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

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Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

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Home Page > Law > Health and Safety > Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

Nursing Home Abuse Statistics

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Posted: Mar 04, 2009 | Views: 2,988 |

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Over 1.6 million people live in licensed nursing homes across the United States and another million live in other long-term care or assisted living facilities. As the baby boom generation gets up in age these numbers will soon increase significantly. If you or a loved one is shopping for a nursing home, or already reside in one, you may not yet be aware of the increasing reports of nursing home abuse and neglect that occur in these facilities.

Here are just a few things that recent studies have revealed:

• One study found that 44 percent of nursing home residents have suffered some form of abuse. 48 percent reported having been treated or handled roughly. 38 percent reported having witnessed the abuse of others.

• Roughly 30 percent of long-term care staff had witnessed some form of physical abuse of a patient in the previous year. 81 percent report having seen some form of verbal, physical, or other form of abuse over this same time period. 40 percent admit to committing such acts at least once over the previous year.

• 66 percent of nursing home residents suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive problems which severely limits their ability to take care of themselves or be aware that abuse is occurring.

• One third of nursing homes or other long-term care facilities have been cited for violations that had the potential to lead to abuse and 10 percent were cited for actual physical abuse.

• 85 percent of nursing home staff blames staffing shortages for the cause of abuse.

Perhaps the most alarming statistic indicates that only 20 percent of instances of nursing home neglect and abuse are ever reported. There are several possible reasons that such instances do not get reported. For one, many nursing home residents are too cognitively impaired to make a report on their own, whether they suffered the abuse or witnessed another resident being abused.

Those who are capable of making a report often choose not to out of fear that doing so would only cause further abuse. Considering that many nursing home residents do not have friends or relatives nearby who can check on them regularly to see that they are being treated properly, this abuse can become a chronic issue.

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If you live in the Mobile, Alabama area and have a loved one in a long-term care facility that you suspect might be suffering from abuse or neglect, or if you are a resident in a nursing home and have suffered from abuse or neglect, please visit the website of attorneys Long & Waite today.

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What Can You Do if a Nursing Home Isn?t So Sweet?

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What Can You Do if a Nursing Home Isn?t So Sweet?

What Can You Do if a Nursing Home Isn’t So Sweet?

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Home Page > Law > What Can You Do if a Nursing Home Isn’t So Sweet?

What Can You Do if a Nursing Home Isn’t So Sweet?

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Posted: May 19, 2009 |Comments: 0
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Nursing home abuse and neglect have become too frequent in today’s mass media. The Washington Post reports that there is an epidemic of “abuse, neglect and exploitation” plaguing the elderly in our communities.

However, millions of families have been forced to make the difficult decision of placing a loved one into a nursing home or assisted living community. They witness a once self-sufficient family member become dependent upon others for the most basic of their day-to-day living needs.

In these circumstances, most seek the best possible care they can afford when placing a loved one into someone else’s care. But the best care is not always what they are given.

Nursing Home Abuse

Elderly people living in nursing homes are vulnerable to a variety of harmful circumstances. It’s up to family members to protect them from the nursing home neglect that could lead to severe injuries:

Dehydration – elderly people are not always aware when they are thirsty and should be regularly offered drinking water Bedsores – when a bed-ridden person is not turned often enough the constant pressure on the same body areas will soon break the skin and lead to bedsores and infection Malnutrition – a busy staff may not always get around to feeding a stroke victim who has lost the use of an arm, or an Alzheimer’s sufferer who doesn’t realize that a food tray is in front of them Wandering – unless the staff is watchful or doors are locked, residents with any type of dementia are likely to leave the nursing home and may be hurt by traffic or a fall Falls – an elderly person with osteoporosis or failing eyesight is vulnerable to falling and should be monitored closely, perhaps given a Foley restraint when in bed or a chair

In addition to neglect there is sometimes also deliberate abuse which may be:

Physical Emotional Sexual Financial

Abuse and neglect of our frail elderly citizens is inhumane and intolerable. No one – especially those unable to defend themselves – should suffer mistreatment at the hands of people trusted to care for them.

To be fair, there are certainly nursing homes that give excellent care to their residents. However, many facilities keep a closer eye on their bottom line than on their residents. They employ poorly-trained staff and underpay them. As a result, they endanger the health and lives of their residents.

Take Action and Know Your Rights

If you are looking for a good nursing home, be sure to thoroughly investigate each one before choosing one to care for your loved one. There are specific things you can look for. Take note of smells, general cleanliness, the moods of other residents and whether there are restricted areas you are not allowed to access.

It’s also important to be familiar with the rights provided by the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987. The law requires nursing homes to “promote and protect the rights of each resident” and places a strong emphasis on individual dignity and self-determination. To participate in Medicare or Medicaid, nursing homes must protect their residents’ rights. Residents have the right to:

Be fully informed Participate in their own care Make independent choices Have privacy and confidentiality Be treated with consideration, respect and dignity Be free from abuse, both mental and physical Complain without fear of retaliation Receive visits from relatives, physicians and representatives

If you notice that your loved one is being neglected or abused in their nursing home, do not delay in consulting an experienced nursing home lawyer. You may end up helping not only your loved one, but also the loved ones of others.

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What do nursing home nurses do ?
What happens when one spouse goes to a nursing home and the other remains home to pay bills, etc? Where do the funds come from to pay these bills if all the funds are paid to the nursing home?
I have a friend living in a retirement home who is running out of money. Is there any financial aid help for her before she goes broke, or is Medicaide and nursing home her only place to go?

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Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in the News

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Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect in the News

Of the estimated 17,000 nursing homes in the United States, thousands of those provide excellent, high quality care for aging adults. Sadly, studies have shown that as many as 30% of these nursing homes have received violations that could harm or ultimately take the life of their residents. Many instances of nursing home abuse and neglect go unreported, but more and more people who have watched their loved ones suffer due to nursing home negligence are fighting back and winning.

Negligent Care in a Texas Nursing Home

The family of a 94-year-old woman who was a resident at Green Acres Parkdale Nursing Home filed a lawsuit against the nursing home stating that her legs were amputated because of negligent care. The woman had been a resident of Green Acres Parkdale since 1995 and suffered a fractured hip after falling in 2003. While at the local hospital, she developed bed sores and blisters on her leg and heels.

When the woman was returned to Green Acres Parkdale with the bed sores and blisters, the nursing home staff neglected to properly monitor and treat her condition and prevent infection. The family routinely requested that the staff reposition the woman, treat the wounds and apply new bandages. The unfortunate solution to the woman’s medical condition and weakening immune system was double leg amputation below the knees.

The case was brought to trial and on Feb. 4, 2008 the family was awarded 0,000 in damages.

Abuse Allegations in an Illinois Nursing Home

In 2007, the Pleasant Hill Village nursing home was fined ,000 by the state for abuse allegations against residents. The allegations stated that two nurse’s aides abused residents by sticking them with safety pins, taunted residents and removed the resident’s personal property if the residents did not behave the way they wanted. The aides were fired from the nursing home and may face criminal charges.

Rape Case in a Florida Nursing Home

In 2003, a 77-year-old female resident of Southwood Nursing Center was sexually assaulted while sleeping by another male resident of the facility. The 83-year-old man had a lengthy arrest record and had been convicted of sex crimes twice in the past. None of the other residents of the nursing home or their families were informed about the resident’s past. The nursing home made no effort to protect the other residents from this potentially dangerous resident. The family sued and was awarded 0,000 in damages.

It is important to watch for any signs of abuse or neglect of loved ones in a nursing home facility. Often residents are incapable or afraid to alert family members of any wrongdoing. All nursing home residents’ basic rights are protected on a state and federal level, and those responsible for negligence should be held accountable. If you feel your loved one has been a victim of nursing home abuse or neglect, contact an attorney before the statute of limitations runs out.

Please contact the experienced nursing home neglect attorneys of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. in Phoenix, Arizona for an initial free case evaluation.

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Category : Nursing Homes | Blog

18
Oct

Where to Find a Guide to Nursing Homes?

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Where to Find a Guide to Nursing Homes?

A nursing home is a residence alternative for senior citizens who do not want full hospital care but cannot be cared for at home. The majority of nursing homes provide skilled elder care helps 24 hours a day. A nursing home is oftentimes a very good option for senior citizens who need personal and medical care.

There are two types of nursing homes:

Hospital-like: These are nursing homes that are set up like hospitals. Health care provider* give medical aid and therapy, including physical, speech, and occupational therapy. In general, there is a nurses’ station on every floor. A room holds one or two residents, and many nursing homes allow couples to share a room. Personal concerns like photos are normally welcome.

Household-like: These are designed to feel more like a home, and day-to-day functions usually are not fixed. The staff and residents work as a team to make a neighborhood-like environment. These residences often include community kitchens open to residents and decorations to make it feel like home. Staffs are boosted to develop human relationship* with residents to create a sense of familiarity.

Some nursing homes employ visiting doctors who see residents on site, whereas others arrange for residents to visit doctors’ offices. Certain nursing homes have separate areas related to as Special Care Units for senior citizens with dementia. Considering someone’s special needs is very important when searching for the right nursing home.

Opting a Facility
Search for all the nursing homes in your area that are more or less family and friends. Figure out what is important to you-for example, nursing care, meals, a religious aspect, hospice care, or Special Care Units to care for senior citizens with dementia.

Talk to as many people as possible, including friends, relatives, social workers, and religious groups who can make suggestions established on your needs. Discuss possible action* with doctors who can tell you which nursing homes offer the best elder care.

Contact every facility you are considering to ask those questions about the number of residents, payment options, and whether there is a waiting list.

Set up a planned visit to meet with the director and nursing director. Some things to search when visiting are Medicare and Medicaid certification, handicap access, strong odors, a variety of food choices, the quality of elder care as seen in the residents, and the ratio of staff to patients.

Don’t hesitate to ask a lot of questions-this could be the place your loved one lives, and you want to make sure it is right for him or her. Ask how long the director and department heads have worked there. If there is a high turnover rate with people leaving often, there may be a problem.

Make another visit without setting up an assignment. Try to go at another time of day or another day of the week to observe another staff members and actions. If you are there during a meal, take notice of whether the occupants seem to be delighting the food.

When you arrive at a decision, read the contract carefully, going over it with a lawyer if you’re unsure about something

Each state is required to inspect each nursing home that receives government funds, and homes that do not pass inspection are not certified. If you are looking at a specific home, you may wish to ask to see the current inspection report and certification.

Paying for Nursing Home Care

Private pay: It is possible for a few people to pay for long-run care with their own savings. When individualized funds begin to dwindle, people may turn to Medicaid. It may be helpful to find out whether your nursing home of choice accepts Medicaid before getting to that point.

Medicaid: This is a State program available to people with low incomes. Eligibility for insurance coverage is determined by each state. Getting approved may take three months or longer.

Long-term care insurance: This is private insurance that can be used to pay for part of the cost of a nursing home or other long-run care. It’s sold by numerous different companies, each type having its own benefits. Scrutinize each policy cautiously before choosing.

Seomul Evans is with Dallas Web Marketing Services consulting for CallMD, an informational Medical resource site specializing in: Mental Health and freeMental Health Disorders articles.

Category : Nursing Homes | Blog

9
Oct

Discovering the Best Nursing Home Care

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Discovering the Best Nursing Home Care

Our loved ones are important to us and that is why placing someone we love in a nursing home is such a hard choice for anyone to make. In addition to feeling like we cannot care for those who have cared for us, we must also deal with not ever having had to take on this task before. There are some many questions you may have about nursing homes that you may not know where to begin.

There is much to think about when considering nursing home facilities for yourself or for your loved one. Having to take so many things, like staff, quality of care and environment, can be overwhelming; you should start by choosing which type of facility will best meet your needs. There are nursing home chains, nonprofit and private nursing homes. Choosing a type of facility will help you to narrow your research field. From there you can use many of the tools available to you online or elsewhere to further your effort and to help you rest assured that you have made the best choice.

When beginning your search you should also consider and special needs you or your loved one may have and find the facilities that are best equipped to handle those needs. Does your loved one need skilled care which allows them access to Medicaid which is accepted by most nursing home chains? Or would you prefer a private-pay or nonprofit facility? Figuring out the answer to this question can help you narrow the field of possibilities.

Once you’ve figured out which type of facility you prefer you can begin contacting these types of nursing homes near you. Before scheduling visits, you should narrow your search even further by conducting phone interviews. When calling get the answers to important questions like: “What’s your staff turnover rate?”, “Do you offer skilled care?”, and “How much can I expect to spend with your facility”? Asking these questions will help you to figure out which facilities you would like to tour.

While touring a facility it is important to remember that cleanliness is more important than newness. Although a nursing home may be brand new or may have recently been renovated, the cost the entity has incurred is normally passed on to you. A long standing facility that is clean is more likely the best choice.

Long standing homes are also more likely to have staff that have been with the facility for many years. A nursing care home with staff members that have worked there for a long time points to job satisfaction; satisfied employees usually enjoy working with the residents and are likely to administer higher quality care. Perhaps the most important thing to us when we look into an assisted living facility is making sure that our loved one is well taken care of.

The best way to be sure that your loved one is being treated properly is to familiarize yourself with the rights that residents have within these facilities. All nursing homes are federally required to adhere to the Resident’s Bill of Rights. This bill includes but is not limited to the right to: information about one’s medical condition, choose one’s own physician, manage one’s own personal finances, privacy, dignity and respect, be free from abuse and unnecessary restraint, voice grievance without retaliation, no unfounded discharge or transfer, be allowed visitors and to control visits, and legal counsel. All nursing homes in the United States are required to make the Resident’s Bill of Right available at all times to residents and their families. For a complete list of these rights you should be sure to ask for a copy at any of the nursing care homes you visit.

Making the decision to place yourself or a loved on into a nursing home does not have to be a bad experience. There are many options available and with a little bit of research it is easy to become educated enough to make the best choice possible. Nursing home life can be fulfilling, so long as we or our loved ones are properly cared for. Be sure to check into your options thoroughly, doing this will to ensure that you have chosen a clean facility with a low staff turnover rate; a facility that regularly schedules activities for the residents outside of the campus, and which adheres to the Resident’s Bill of Rights, easy.

Jennifer Carnduff Narrates beautifully the complete picture of the nursing home and pain is unavoidable yet can be constructive if treated on time in Nursing homes.

Category : Nursing Homes | Blog

28
Sep

Choosing and Hiring a Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

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Choosing and Hiring a Nursing Home Neglect Attorney

Nursing home abuse and neglect are widespread problem that attacks the very people we are trying most to protect: our senior citizens. Most of us are fortunate enough to know someone and care for someone who has made it to what we call old age.

These people are fonts of knowledge with a lifetime’s worth of experiences built up to share with us. They are often treated as beloved burdens, however, foisted off into nursing homes and forgotten about until the news comes that they have been the victims of nursing home abuse.

These people are not criminals or terrorists, somehow to blame for their own actions. Instead, these people are victims of a vicious system that is designed to care for them and yet is one that is more likely to cause them harm than good. Nursing homes are for the people in our lives who are too sick or too old to take care of themselves anymore, and we rely on the staff of these facilities to take care of them for us.

Unfortunately, the staffs of nursing homes are often overworked and overburdened thanks to the negligent business practices of the owners and managers of the nursing homes.

No matter how well intentioned the nurses of these facilities start out, nerves become frayed, tempers flare at the frustration and unfairness of their situations, and accidents happen. These can lead to the harm of our beloved elderly relatives, and sometimes even lead to the deaths of the patients for which the nursing homes are supposed to be caring.

In cases like these, it is up to the families to stand up for their hurt or deceased loved ones and make the nursing home owners pay for the negligent actions that have caused that harm and others like it over the course of the years.

Many families do not feel the need to point fingers or blame someone for these tragic injuries or deaths, however without penalties of a kind that they understand “cutting into their profits” these nursing home owners will express condolences, punish a nurse or two who are just as much victims of the system as anyone, and continue to do business as usual.

The only way to change the system is to punish those who are getting away with abusing it, and that means taking legal action against the owners of the nursing homes who cause such grievous harm to our loved ones. A nursing home abuse attorney can help you take that step toward justice and righting the wrongs of the system.

Accountability will not be reached without legal and financial consequences for these companies. A nursing home abuse attorney knows this, and will help you and your family along the road to seeking justice and to help you punish the owners for the corporate mentality that leads to understaffed nursing homes and costly mistakes.

Choosing the best lawyer for your nursing home abuse case starts with finding a lawyer in your area who practices that kind of law. One who specializes in the field of nursing home abuse is best since they will already have the knowledge that they need to guide you through the system and lead you to the favorable conclusion.

The next step is to ensure that the lawyer you have chosen is sympathetic to your cause and is someone that you feel comfortable working with. He or she will be helping you along every step of the way, so it is important to find someone that you are comfortable with. Interview more than one attorney if you need to, but make sure that they understand your case and are willing to help you meet your goals in court.

Going to court can be a difficult and trying time for a family that is still recovering from the aftermath of dealing with nursing home abuse, but it is the only way to put a stop to the neglectful and negligent activities of the owners of these homes. Your family will be one of the many that hopefully will stand together against the cruel ways of these companies and fight for the rights of our elderly relatives.

No matter how difficult the road ahead becomes, remember that you are doing the right thing, and that you are taking action for the right reasons. These negligent nursing homes need to change, and we have to become the agents of that change. Only then will our loved ones be safe in the places that are supposed to care for them.

Nick Johnson is lead counsel with Johnson Law Group. Johnson represents plaintiffs in many states and focuses on injury cases involving Nursing Home Abuse, Nursing Home Neglect and Negligence. Visit http://www.topnursinghomelawyers.com or call 1-888-311-5522

Category : Nursing Homes | Blog

19
Sep

Nursing Home Abuse

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Nursing Home Abuse

Nursing home abuse is one of the most serious problems facing this country’s elderly population. It is estimated that at least one in 20 nursing home patients has been the victim of abuse. According to this same study, approximately 57% of nurses’ aides working in long-term care facilities admitted to having witnessed, and even participated in, acts of abuse. The report sites widespread problems within the nursing home industry, such as inadequate pay for workers and chronic understaffing as contributing factors to the epidemic of abuse.

There are nearly 1.4 million Americans living in nursing homesright now, and that number is expected to more than double in the next decade as our population ages. As it does, advocates for the elderly fear that incidences of nursing home abuse will continue to climb as well.

Physical or mental abuse and neglect of our elderly parents is a silent crime. The sad fact is that most of the elderly with disabilities are unlikely to complain about abuse, neglect or victimization under the fear that they will lose whatever support that they have, and that their complaints will trigger reprisals.

Signs of Abuse

Federal and state governments have passed laws to insure that nursing home residents receive the care, treatment and quality of life to which they are entitled. How do you know when a nursing home is violating the rights of a loved one you’ve entrusted to their care? Be alert to signs of:

• Bed sores

• Malnutrition

• Over-sedation

• Poor hygiene

• Falls and fractures

• Failure to provide adequate food and water

• Decubitus ulcers

• Gangrene

• Weight loss

Why is Abuse Present in Nursing Homes?

The tragic truth is that the nursing home industry, for the most part, behaves as just that: an industry that houses our elderly loved ones at the lowest cost possible.

This means:

• Minimal qualifications

• Inadequate staffing

• Insufficient training

• Low wages and high turnover

Many facilities also don’t meet minimum state health and safety standards. Problems can include fire safety violations, loose handrails, pest infestations, improper food handling, and bad odors from urine and feces – all of which lead to dangerous and abusive conditions for the elderly residents.

The ultimate result is serious and even life-threatening problems for nursing home residents:

• weight loss,

• failure to treat pressure sores or

• failure to manage pain effectively,

• hospitalization,

• malnutrition,

• dehydration and even starvation.

Hope

After years of providing neglectful elder care, nursing homesare finally starting to be held accountable. Numerous lawsuits have been filed across the country and grieving families are receiving compensation for pain, suffering and the untimely death of loved ones.

Accordingly, if your elderly loved one has been neglected, abused or injured while in the care of a nursing home or other healthcare facility, please contact our attorneys today. You are your family have legal rights that not only protect you, but others as well.

Category : Nursing Homes | Blog

15
Sep

Solitary Confinement — for Life

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Sixty-five year old Arthur Jones served a self-imposed life sentence – in his own home.

Arthur lived in a high crime neighborhood, so he built iron cages around his outside doors and installed bars on all the windows. No one could find it easy to break in to Arthur’s house!

I met Arthur a few years ago, although you would hardly call our interaction meeting. When I arrived to deliver his meal, as part of the Meals-on-Wheels program, Arthur barely cracked open his front door even though his cage clearly protected him. He refused to open the cage door at all, so, to give him his meal, I had to angle the box through the bars. Without doubt, this maneuver scrambled the hot contents of his boxed meal, but Arthur would have it no other way. He clearly feared me, a 100-pound woman, and everyone else.

I wish I could say that Arthur’s family came to his rescue, finding for him the medical and emotional treatment he needed. I cannot. Arthur’s depression and paranoia compounded relentlessly, killing him at far too young an age.

Many elders live like Arthur, holed up in their own homes, barricaded against the world. Who cares? Family and friends must care, and they must assume the primary responsibility, acting before their elder’s condition rivals that of Arthur. We cannot shift this burden to our government. We cannot wish it away. Those among us lucky enough to have elders in our lives must shoulder the responsibility of seeing that they do not succumb to depression.

At this holiday season, many elders experience transitory depression, as celebrations bring memories of friends and loved ones who have died. Decreased hours of sunshine may add to their depressed feelings. How do you know if your elder suffers from serious depression? And, if you suspect depression, what you should do? Here are a few tips.

What signs should lead you to suspect serious depression?

Lethargy and or refusal to get out of bed;
Changes in Sleep Patterns, such as sleeping all morning
Unusual Complaints
Memory loss and loss of ability to concentrate
Frequent sighs or weeping if unusual for the sufferer
Feeling fear and loneliness;
Thoughts of death
Refusal to eat
Refusal to take prescribed medications
Thoughts or talk of suicide (remember, the notion that suicides do not signal their plans is a myth!)
Significant changes in personality
Irritability

What Can You Do?

A few simple steps may improve their condition rapidly:

Call more often than usual.
Take your elder for outings away from the house.
Schedule a medical appointment to confirm or deny your suspicions, and be the one to take your elder to that appointment. Depression often accompanies the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Check bottles to be certain that your elder is actually taking prescribed medications at the recommended dosages. Too many or too few pills in the bottle can warn you of problems. If you find evidence that medications are not taken as prescribed, gently probe to see if you can learn why.
Include the elder in parties and holiday festivities, but keep the duration of their participation at a level they can handle comfortably.
Drop in more often than usual on homebound elders.

You don’t have to be a doctor or social worker to recognize the signs of depression. Take action now to protect those who protected you.

About The Author

Phyllis Staff, Ph.D. – Phyllis Staff is an experimental psychologist and the CEO of The Best Is Yet.Net, an internet company that helps seniors and caregivers find trustworthy residential care. She is the author of How to Find Great Senior Housing: A Roadmap for Elders and Those Who Love Them. She is also the daughter of a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. Visit the author’s web site at http://www.thebestisyet.net” target=”_new

pando19 @ yahoo .com

Solitary Confinement — for Life

Category : Nursing Homes | Retiring | Blog

8
Sep

Finding a Safe Nursing Home

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Finding a Safe Nursing Home

When the time comes to find a long-term care facility for yourself or a loved one, there are many important decisions to be made. Depending on where you live, you may or may not have many different nursing homesto choose from. While location and budget are very important factors for most people, there are many other things to consider. You will want to be sure that you are choosing a home that provides a high standard of quality and care. The question then becomes how do I find such a nursing home? Here are some suggestions and things to look for when shopping for a nursing home:

· Is the facility accredited? – Long-term care facilities that are accredited by the Joint Commission have to meet very high quality and safety standards. Such facilities are regularly monitored to ensure that the facility is kept current and that organizational and managerial improvement is a priority. Please visit our page on accredited versus non-accredited nursing homes for a complete discussion.

· How is the nursing home rated? – Any nursing home that accepts payments from the Medicare program is routinely inspected and given a rating based on quality, safety, and performance. These ratings are kept very current and are a good indication of what you can expect from the facility. Incidents of nursing home abuse and neglect will show up on these records.

· Word of mouth – Do not believe everything you read in a nursing home’s self-published marketing literature. Ask friends and family who might know someone that lives in one of the nearby nursing homes. What have those nursing home residents had to say about their quality of life? Are they satisfied? What sort of complaints do they have about the way the facility is run?

· Make a personal visit to the facilities you are considering – It is in your best interest to drop in unannounced. This will give you a better idea of how things are typically run. Be sure to ask the staff questions about safety, cleanliness, recreational activities, staff qualifications, and any special medical services you may need. If possible, ask some of the current residents for any input they may have. There are a number of thorough checklists available on the internet that you can bring along with you on your visit that will help make sure that you get the most from your visit.

There are hundreds of new facilities opening every year. Finding the right one can be overwhelming. There are a number of professional organizations available to help you in your search. Attorneys experienced in the field of elder law are a good place to start.

If you live in the Mobile, Alabama area and are in search of a safe nursing home, or have questions about the quality and safety records of local long-term care facilities, please visit the website of Long & Waite, Attorneys at Law today.

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Nursing Home Staffing Levels: How Much Is Enough?

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During the week of February 17, 2002, headlines screamed the news – more than 92% of US nursing homes fail to have an adequate number of staff to provide quality care for elderly residents. Newspapers and radio programs based their stories on the new study the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) recently provided to the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging.

Interesting findings led us to reexamine our current data set of nursing home deficiencies. What we found may surprise you; there was no relationship between the level of staffing and the number of deficiencies reported for nursing homes. However, there was a relationship between level of staffing and percent of residents with pressure sores and physical restraints.

This article is provided to you so you’ll have a greater understanding of what these findings mean.

The HCFA Study

Purpose – HCFA’s study was performed at the request of the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging to determine what minimum level of nursing home staffing was required in order to provide quality care.

Findings – The study reported that a minimum level of staffing, determined to be 2.9 hours of Certified Nursing Aide (CAN) time per resident was required for quality care. A number of measures went into this finding. Among them, a time and motion study examined the time required for basic services such as dressing and toileting.

A correlational study that examined the relationship between pressure (bed) sores and staffing found that a higher level of staffing was related to lower levels of pressure sores. This study was somewhat limited by the fact that homes with very low levels of staffing refused to participate; it may be inferred that the correlational findings would have been stronger with the participation of these homes.

In addition, the HCFA study examined the accuracy of reported level of staffing in survey and cost reports. They found that cost reports were more accurate than survey results in reflecting an accurate level of staffing as determined by nursing home payrolls.

Limitations – The report was limited by the extent of the data gathered (3 states included) and may not be generalizable across all states.

When Should Staffing Concern You

When the best is yet.net began examining long-term care, we attempted to gather data on staffing and found that it was extremely difficult to acquire accurate information. Then a well-respected administrator advised us that while staffing was important, it was not as good as measure of quality as the level of care residents actually received. We have learned through experience how right his advice was.

So what should you look for when determining the quality of care residents receive?

Look for residents who are well groomed and not lethargic.
Look for residents actively engaged in activities; although each nursing home is required to have an activities director, this does not mean that scheduled activities actually occur.
Check the latest survey ratings for the percent of residents with pressure sores. Look for a rating close to zero. We also suggest that you examine the percent of residents with physical restraints because physical restraints may be used as a substitute for staff. Again, look for a rating close to zero.
Look for the quality of interactions between staff and residents. Even though a minimum level of staffing is required for quality care, merely having staff at that level does not guarantee quality care. Homes may have high numbers of staff that do not interact appropriately with residents.
Listen for reactions to resident complaints. Staff who ignore requests and complaints are not providing quality care.

What You Can Do to Find Good Care

Check nursing home ratings and visit only those with few or, still better, no deficiencies.
Call your state’s long-term care ombudsman to get information on resident/family complaints. Although these complaints are not standardized and may include wide variations in severity, a large number of complaints should warn you away from homes receiving them.
Consider non-profit care first. In general, non-profit homes have fewer reported deficiencies and higher levels of staffing than do for-profit homes.

What Else Can You Do?

The current growth in an aging population means that more and more people will require long-term care unless we do something about it now. That something becomes very personal for those of us in the Baby Boomer generation who will, within a few years, be part of the generation potentially needing nursing home care.

So, how’s your health? Do what you can to ensure that your later life will not be complicated by any of the three leading causes of nursing home stays: heart disease, stroke and cancer.

About The Author

Phyllis Staff, Ph.D. – Phyllis Staff is an experimental psychologist and the CEO of The Best Is Yet.Net, an internet company that helps seniors and caregivers find trustworthy residential care. She is the author of How to Find Great Senior Housing: A Roadmap for Elders and Those Who Love Them. She is also the daughter of a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. Visit the author’s web site at http://www.thebestisyet.net” target=”_new

pando19 @ yahoo .com

Nursing Home Staffing Levels: How Much Is Enough?

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