Nursing home ratings provide information about the quality of nursing homes throughout the United States. Nursing home ratings may be available through government, private company, or consumer watchdog groups and have specific criteria on which nursing home ratings are based. Nursing home ratings can be a valuable tool to patients and families who are in the process of choosing a nursing home facility.
Nursing home ratings can provide crucial information about a number of aspects related to a nursing home facility. Nursing home ratings also provide a standard by which nursing home facility comparisons can be made. Nursing home ratings are important as the risk of nursing home abuse is widespread in our nation.
At least thirty percent of all nursing homes in the United States have been found guilty of committing significant acts of nursing home abuse against the patients under their care. One nursing home ratings system indicates that only twelve percent of all nursing homes have been inspected by the government and not found in breech of federal law.
The Federal Nursing Home Care Reform Act of 1987 is a comprehensive law which created a set of minimum standards of care that nursing home facilities must meet. Under this law, each state is responsible for inspecting all state nursing homes every nine to fifteen months. These unannounced investigations are designed to measure staffing, quality of care, and cleanliness standards in the nursing homes. There are at least 150 different points on which a facility is graded during a state inspection. The results of state inspections are considered public information and are used to determine nursing home ratings.
Nursing home ratings can take a number of factors into account when evaluating the quality of a nursing home. Some nursing home ratings systems provide interested parties with information about state inspection results, complaint investigations, repeating problems, and other general information about a nursing home facility. Inspections and compliant reports from government sources indicate the type of abuse committed, the extent of the abuse, and what is being done to remedy the problem, all of which can be factored into nursing home ratings.
Some nursing home ratings groups have also compiled lists of nursing homes to be wary of as well as those that have received outstanding nursing home ratings. These can be accessed by any individual who seeks this information.
Many nursing home ratings are available to the public for free. Other nursing home ratings reports compiled by private organizations may request a small fee for access to their more comprehensive nursing home ratings reports. If you would like to receive information about nursing home ratings, your state's nursing home investigation agency may be a good place to start.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Nursing Home Abuse Articles
Nursing home abuse articles continue to appear in newspapers and magazines across the nation. A few years ago tales and instances of nursing home abuse began to be discovered and as a few nursing home abuse articles reported on these problems, it quickly became evident that these nursing home abuse articles were not reporting on select instances. Reporters, officials, families, and lawmakers became more and more horrified at the severity, cruelty, and high incidence of nursing home abuse that was occurring across the nation.
Nursing home abuse articles quickly put one of the nation's greatest new law enforcement challenges of today into the spotlight. The horrific reports of abuse covered in the nursing home abuse articles indicated that the problem had been going on for so long that to fix the crisis would be an extremely difficult task for the future. The likelihood that nursing home abuse will in some way affect every single person is great, as nursing home abuse articles unfolded that the majority of nursing home crimes go unreported despite reports that one in three nursing homes abuse residents.
Nursing Home Abuse Article in the News
August 8, 2001 “Nursing Home Abuse Report: Elderly Abused at 1 in 3 Nursing Homes” Reports of serious, physical, sexual and verbal nursing home abuse are "numerous" throughout the nation, according to a congressional report released today. The study, prepared by the minority (Democratic and Independent) staff of the Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee, finds that 30 percent of nursing homes in the United States — 5,283 facilities — were cited for almost 9,000 instances of nursing home abuse over a recent two-year period, from January 1999 to January 2001. Common problems included untreated bedsores, inadequate medical care, malnutrition, dehydration, preventable accidents, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene, the report said.
Nursing home abuse articles quickly put one of the nation's greatest new law enforcement challenges of today into the spotlight. The horrific reports of abuse covered in the nursing home abuse articles indicated that the problem had been going on for so long that to fix the crisis would be an extremely difficult task for the future. The likelihood that nursing home abuse will in some way affect every single person is great, as nursing home abuse articles unfolded that the majority of nursing home crimes go unreported despite reports that one in three nursing homes abuse residents.
Nursing Home Abuse Article in the News
August 8, 2001 “Nursing Home Abuse Report: Elderly Abused at 1 in 3 Nursing Homes” Reports of serious, physical, sexual and verbal nursing home abuse are "numerous" throughout the nation, according to a congressional report released today. The study, prepared by the minority (Democratic and Independent) staff of the Special Investigations Division of the House Government Reform Committee, finds that 30 percent of nursing homes in the United States — 5,283 facilities — were cited for almost 9,000 instances of nursing home abuse over a recent two-year period, from January 1999 to January 2001. Common problems included untreated bedsores, inadequate medical care, malnutrition, dehydration, preventable accidents, and inadequate sanitation and hygiene, the report said.
United States
In the United States, a "Skilled Nursing Facility" or "SNF" is a nursing home certified to participate in, and be reimbursed by Medicare. Medicare is the federal program primarily for the aged who contributed to Social Security and Medicare while they were employed. A "Nursing Facility" or "NF" is a nursing home certified to participate in, and be reimbursed by Medicaid. Medicaid is the federal program implemented with each State to provide health care and related services to those who are "poor." Each State defines poverty and; therefore, Medicaid eligibility. Those eligible for Medicaid may be aged, disabled or children (e.g. Children's Health Insurance Programs - CHIPs and Maternal-Child wellness and food programs).
In the United States, each State "licenses" its nursing homes, making them subject to the State's laws and regulations. Nursing homes may choose to participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid. If they pass a survey (inspection), they are "certified" and are also subject to federal laws and regulations. All or part of a nursing home may participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid.
In the United States, nursing homes which participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid are required to have licensed practical nurses (LPNs) (in some States designated "vocational nurses" or "LVNs") on duty 24 hours a day. For at least 8 hours per day, 7 days per week, there must be a registered nurse on duty. Nursing homes are managed by a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Unlike U.S. nursing there are no standardized training and licensing requirements for administrators, though most states require a Federal License, and many states such as California have their own licensure for administrators. In April 18, 2005 there were a total of 16,094 nursing homes in the United States, down from 16,516 in December 12, 2002.
There are states that have other levels of care offered to elderly and other adults who need assistance and are able to live in the community. For instance, Connecticut has Residential Care Homes or RCH that are licensed by the State Department of Public Health. These homes provide 24-hour supervision and typically offer a more "home-like" environment. Many are actually large homes that have been converted to dwellings that offer a residential community that promotes an independent lifestyle and fosters fellowship with others who need some form of assistance to live in the community. [1]
Nursing homes that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs are subject to federal requirements regarding staffing and quality of care for residents.[2] In 2004, 98.5% of the 16,100 nursing facilities nationwide were certified to participate in Medicare, Medicaid, or both.
Medicare covers nursing home services for 20 to 100 days for beneficiaries who require skilled nursing care or rehabilitation services following a hospitalization of at least three consecutive days. The program does not cover nursing care if only custodial care is needed — for example, when a person needs assistance with bathing, walking, or transferring from a bed to a chair. To be eligible for Medicare-covered skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, a physician must certify that the beneficiary needs daily skilled nursing care or other skilled rehabilitation services that are related to the hospitalization, and that these services, as a practical matter, can be provided only on an inpatient basis. For example, a beneficiary released from the hospital after a stroke and in need of physical therapy, or a beneficiary in need of skilled nursing care for wound treatment following a surgical procedure, might be eligible for Medicare-covered SNF care.
SNF services may be offered in a free-standing or hospital-based facility. A freestanding facility is generally part of a nursing home that covers Medicare SNF services as well as long-term care services for people who pay out-of-pocket, through Medicaid, or through a long-term care insurance policy. Generally, Medicare SNF patients make up just a small portion of the total resident population of a free-standing nursing home.
Medicare also covers nursing home care for certain persons who require custodial care, meet a state's means-tested income and asset tests, and require the level-of-care offered in a nursing home. Nursing home residents have physical or cognitive impairments and require 24-hour care.
The cost of staying in a Nursing home can cost several thousand per month or more.[3] Some deplete their resources on the often high cost of care. If eligible, Medicaid will cover continued stays in nursing home for these individuals for life. However, they require that the patient be "spent down" to a low asset level first by either depleting their life savings or asset-protecting them, often using an elder law attorney.
In the United States, each State "licenses" its nursing homes, making them subject to the State's laws and regulations. Nursing homes may choose to participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid. If they pass a survey (inspection), they are "certified" and are also subject to federal laws and regulations. All or part of a nursing home may participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid.
In the United States, nursing homes which participate in Medicare and/or Medicaid are required to have licensed practical nurses (LPNs) (in some States designated "vocational nurses" or "LVNs") on duty 24 hours a day. For at least 8 hours per day, 7 days per week, there must be a registered nurse on duty. Nursing homes are managed by a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator. Unlike U.S. nursing there are no standardized training and licensing requirements for administrators, though most states require a Federal License, and many states such as California have their own licensure for administrators. In April 18, 2005 there were a total of 16,094 nursing homes in the United States, down from 16,516 in December 12, 2002.
There are states that have other levels of care offered to elderly and other adults who need assistance and are able to live in the community. For instance, Connecticut has Residential Care Homes or RCH that are licensed by the State Department of Public Health. These homes provide 24-hour supervision and typically offer a more "home-like" environment. Many are actually large homes that have been converted to dwellings that offer a residential community that promotes an independent lifestyle and fosters fellowship with others who need some form of assistance to live in the community. [1]
[edit] Services
Services provided in nursing homes include services of nurses, nursing aides and assistants; physical, occupational and speech therapists; social workers and recreational assistants; and room and board. Most care in nursing facilities is provided by certified nursing assistants, not by skilled personnel. In 2004, there were, on average, 40 certified nursing assistants per 100 resident beds. The number of registered nurses and licensed practical nurses were significantly lower at 7 per 100 resident beds and 13 per 100 resident beds, respectively.Nursing homes that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs are subject to federal requirements regarding staffing and quality of care for residents.[2] In 2004, 98.5% of the 16,100 nursing facilities nationwide were certified to participate in Medicare, Medicaid, or both.
Medicare covers nursing home services for 20 to 100 days for beneficiaries who require skilled nursing care or rehabilitation services following a hospitalization of at least three consecutive days. The program does not cover nursing care if only custodial care is needed — for example, when a person needs assistance with bathing, walking, or transferring from a bed to a chair. To be eligible for Medicare-covered skilled nursing facility (SNF) care, a physician must certify that the beneficiary needs daily skilled nursing care or other skilled rehabilitation services that are related to the hospitalization, and that these services, as a practical matter, can be provided only on an inpatient basis. For example, a beneficiary released from the hospital after a stroke and in need of physical therapy, or a beneficiary in need of skilled nursing care for wound treatment following a surgical procedure, might be eligible for Medicare-covered SNF care.
SNF services may be offered in a free-standing or hospital-based facility. A freestanding facility is generally part of a nursing home that covers Medicare SNF services as well as long-term care services for people who pay out-of-pocket, through Medicaid, or through a long-term care insurance policy. Generally, Medicare SNF patients make up just a small portion of the total resident population of a free-standing nursing home.
Medicare also covers nursing home care for certain persons who require custodial care, meet a state's means-tested income and asset tests, and require the level-of-care offered in a nursing home. Nursing home residents have physical or cognitive impairments and require 24-hour care.
The cost of staying in a Nursing home can cost several thousand per month or more.[3] Some deplete their resources on the often high cost of care. If eligible, Medicaid will cover continued stays in nursing home for these individuals for life. However, they require that the patient be "spent down" to a low asset level first by either depleting their life savings or asset-protecting them, often using an elder law attorney.
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