Why Are Many Nursing Homes Getting Worse?
Everyday, it seems that more and more horror stories about nursing home abuse are shown on the news. The idea that the media can exaggerate stories often comes to mind, but in the case of nursing homes, the increase in abuse and neglect is not imaginary. Every year, nursing homes have been increasingly cited for more cases of abuse and neglect. More instances are being uncovered of death or injury being caused by improper care that the nursing home provides.
Bigger Isn’t Better
With a sharp rise in aging of the baby boomer generation, there is an increase in the demand for senior care. In 2006, nursing homes received more than $75 billion from taxpayer programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The typical large chain nursing home in 2005 earned $1,700 per resident and was 41% more profitable than the average smaller facility. Along with those profits, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported that serious health deficiencies cited by regulators was nearly 19% higher at nursing homes owned by large investment companies than the national average.
Professional Owners
Between 2000 and 2008, “immediate jeopardy” violations (meaning those that are likely to result in serious injury or death) in nursing homes rose 22 percent. Nursing homes that have been acquired by investment companies score worse than the national rates in government indicators used to track ailments of residents and their care. Many of those same homes had scores above the national averages before being taken over by the investment companies. Governmental regulatory agencies often cite these nursing homes for their violations regarding staff reductions to cut costs, but the homes are often sold quickly for significant profits.
Understaffing & Cost-Cutting
The cost cutting measures mean less nurses, less oversight and poorer care for people who need it the most. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that most nursing home residents need at least 1.3 hours of care per day, and in the large investment company owned homes, the average is typically only 1 hour per day. Additionally, the number of nurses per resident at these more profitable nursing homes is 35% below the national average.
More and more nursing homes are being turned into profitable businesses rather than health care facilities. Private investment companies have been increasingly purchasing nursing homes and immediately cutting costs, sometimes to the point that minimal regulatory standards are not even met. Companies purchasing nursing homes are creating a corporate structure to insulate the facility from liability and protect assets. Additionally, the complex corporate structures that are being created make it difficult for plaintiffs to succeed in lawsuits and for the government to fine the actual owners of the facility.
Because of this increase in nursing home abuse and neglect in favor of expanding profits, it’s important to evaluate nursing homes carefully. Also, reporting abuse or neglect to governmental agencies can help force these homes into compliance. The nursing homes may be running as optimal business models, but not a place where you would trust your loved ones to be safely cared for.