Nursing homes are graded in three ways. First, trained surveyors perform inspections on site. These include annual inspections and those prompted by a complaint. Second, specific quality measures are assessed. Eleven quality measures are scored based on clinical data reported by the nursing home themselves. Lastly, the staffing of the home influences their grade. While the federal government requires enough staffing to adequately care for residents, there is no specific ratio. Therefore, the CMS staffing rating is the only existing guideline currently. Staffing is calculated by Registered Nurse (RN) hours per resident day and total staffing hours per resident day, including RNs, Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVN) and Certified Nurses Aids (CNA). By going to the Nursing Home Compare website, users can look at overall ratings or view how each home scores in these three categories separately. While the rating system was launched in 2008, two new factors are being considered in their quality measurements.
Before the recent revisions, about 80 percent of homes received a four or five-star rating. CMS estimates now only about 49 percent will get these high ratings. About two-thirds will see a drop in their quality ratings and one-third will see decline in their overall score. However, CMS is confident the scores will increase as nursing homes work hard to make improvements in line with the quality of care reflected by the scoring process. In fact, benefits are already being seen. For example, CMS has been focusing on reducing the amount of antipsychotics for the last couple years. By the end of 2013, there was a 15 percent reduction compared to 2011. In coordination with the National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care, CMS has set a goal to reduce antipsychotic use by 30 percent by the end of 2016.
Selecting a Home
While Nursing Home Compare is extremely helpful, selecting a home for your loved one requires much more than viewing a rating system. Many factors much be considered, including proximity to family, amenities, quality of life offered, treatment required by the patient, costs and numerous other factors. An on site visit and interview with staff will help you get a feel for the atmosphere. While comfort and quality are your top priority, cost cannot be ignored either. Families must consider not only the out-of-pocket costs, but also a strategy to protect your loved one’s assets. An experienced Medicaid attorney can help protect your assets, as well as determine what coverage you qualify for. Talk to an attorney at The Elder Care Firm about the use of trusts, transferring assets, purchasing annuities or a strategy that increases income and resource allowances for family members. Contact us to get started.
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The post Medicaid Updates Nursing Home Ratings, Helping to Make Long-Term Care Decisions Easier first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>To compile the information used in the report cards, the group used performance data from the Nursing Home Compare program of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Kaiser Health Foundation performance information, and complaint data provided by each state’s Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman.
The group said that Texas was the only state with failing grades in six out of eight statistical measures of quality of care.
Less than 20 percent of nursing homes in Texas had an above average direct care staff rating, a lower percentage than any other state. In terms of direct care staffing hours, Texas ranked 44th among the states, with an F grade.
The report found that 94 percent of facilities in Texas had deficiencies, and 16 percent had severe deficiencies. In terms of above average health inspections, Texas ranked 44th out of all the states.
In terms of the average time each resident spends with a registered nurse per day, Texas ranked 50th among the states. Less than 11 percent of facilities in Texas had an above average registered nurse staffing rating, placing the state in 49th place in that category.
With regard to complaints received by the state’s Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, 92 percent of complaints were verified.
Brian Lee, the executive director of Families for Better Care, said that the state’s “abysmal” record epitomizes what is wrong with nursing home care. Lee said that nursing homes in the state were severely understaffed. The group called on the state legislature and Governor Rick Perry to take action to improve the regulation of skilled nursing facilities.
On the group’s list of the worst states for nursing home care, Texas was joined by Louisiana, Oklahoma, Indiana, New Mexico, Missouri, New York, Michigan, Nevada, Illinois and Iowa. The group said that the best states for nursing home care were Alaska, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Oregon, Utah, Idaho, Maine, South Dakota and North Dakota.
The United States has over 15,000 nursing facilities that are home to more than 1.5 million Americans.
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The post Texas Scores Poorly in Nursing Home Care first appeared on SEONewsWire.net.]]>While there are a number of state and government resources that will help you compare nursing homes in terms of safety records and complaints filed against them, one of the most direct ways you can learn about the nursing homes in your area is by asking the people who have experience with them. Ask neighbors, friends and clergy if they have any experience with the nursing homes you are considering. Reach out to your family health care professional – ask if they provide care at area nursing homes, and see what they think. You can also contact your local senior center for recommendations.
A good online resource is Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare. Go to www.medicare.gov/NHCompare to look up nursing homes by name or location.
Christopher J. Berry is a Michigan estate planning attorney and Medicaid planning lawyer dedicated to helping seniors, veterans and their families navigate the long-term care maze. To learn more visit http://www.michiganelderlawattorney.com/ or call 248.481.4000
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