Nursing Home Abuse: Nursing Homes with Repeated Violations
Posted by
Laura BlattJune 01, 2007 5:44 PMIn 2006, one in five nursing homes received citations for violations that could seriously harm residents. This figure comes from recent studies by the GAO (Government Accountability Office), which has been tracking nursing home performance for the last decade and reporting back to Congress at least once a year.
Sadly, the GAO found that some nursing homes repeatedly violated federal and state laws about resident care and safety. One study of 63 nursing homes found that the facilities received minimal fines, made some corrections, and then went right back to providing poor care to residents.
Perhaps the owners consider the penalties and fines a mere cost of doing business. The GAO acknowledged that some improvements have been made in monitoring and correcting nursing home abuse, but concluded that the "task of ensuring high-quality nursing home care is still not complete."
We have seen various examples of nursing home problems, including neglect and physical abuse. Neglect can be failure to provide adequate food, shelter or medicine. It can be as simple as not providing adequate hygiene. Because of neglect, residents can develop severe bed sores and other medical problems.
If you believe that a loved one is not being cared for properly, you should consult with the nursing home staff . The facility should also have a procedure in place for filing complaints. A goverment-appointed ombudsman may also be helpful. The names and contact information for the ombudsman should be posted or available at the nursing home. In some serious situations, contacting Adult Protective Services and an attorney may be your best solution.