Nursing homes are rated by Medicare for several categories, including staffing. The rating system gives 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest) stars for each category, and then average the factors for an overall rating.
As you can well imagine, the better the staff to resident ratio means residents are more frequently attended. Increased staffing numbers mean more people are there to assist with feeding, bathing, medication delivery, and making sure all recommended resident needs are met.
Historically, nursing homes have self reported their staffing numbers. However, starting in 2010, the ACA (Affordable Care Act) required nursing homes to publish their payroll data.
Kaiser Health News analyzed this payroll data, and found that many nursing homes had been over-reporting their staffing at the facility. Less staff equals decreased care. Medicare will be readjusting their ratings based on this revealing information.
The National Council on Aging (aging.com) has several suggestions for selecting a nursing home for your loved one. They recommend you consider the individual, their needs and personality, and also “trust your gut”. Does the facility seem clean? Is there access to the administrator? You may also want to find out if there is a resident and family council, which the nursing facilities must allow to meet on their premises, and talk to other residents and their family members to find out if they have been able to have needs met in a reasonable manner. Loved ones might also find ways to stay involved by joining the family council, or starting one if that facility does not have one already.
Choosing an appropriate facility is a difficult decision for many elders and family members. We rely on ratings and other government information when researching choices, and it is very helpful to have reports such as Kaiser Health developed to provide greater transparency and accuracy.
——————————————————————–
Rosen & Spears is a plaintiff law firm which seeks to protect the rights of healthcare consumers and their loved ones through medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, financial abuse of seniors, and other types of claims. For more information, please contact us.
