August 26, 2009
Recent Study Found Violations Reported at 94% of Nursing Homes
Nursing home residents face a daily threat around the United States and throughout the state of Illinois. Nursing home neglect cases are rising dramatically and a recent study by federal investigators found reported violations at 94% of nursing homes. More than 1.5 million people live in nursing homes around the country and extensive steps must be taken to reduce the violations and protect our aging senior citizens.
Of the violations reported, around seventeen percent of nursing homes caused “Actual harm or immediate jeopardy” to patients according to Daniel Levinson of the Department of Health and Human Services. The main problems reported were medication mix-ups, abuse, neglect, poor nutrition and infected bedsores. Illinois nursing home negligence lawyers have represented many individuals who have been victims of these violations.
Homes with a higher ratio of nursing staff members to patients provide better care to residents than those that fail to provide sufficient staffing with appropriate clinical expertise. In Chicago, nursing home abuse attorneys have seen nursing homes bill Medicare and Medicaid for services that either were not provided or deficient in that they amounted to no care at all.
In addition, the inspection system is far from adequate. Bruce Yarwood, president of the American Health Care Association stated, “It does not reliably measure quality and it does not create any positive incentives. Although treating pressure sores, reducing physical restraints and managing pain has improved, the nursing home system needs dramatic improvements to help prevent Illinois nursing home neglect. Inspectors have also been found to be subjective and inconsistent and they interpret federal standards in different ways.
If you or a loved one resides in a nursing home and would like information on preventing Illinois nursing home neglect or instructions on reporting a violation, contact a Chicago nursing home abuse attorney immediately. Too many residents have already been victimized by the broken nursing home system and drastic change is needed.
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