a rating system for nursing homes?

[unsaint77]

I know Magnet is a way to recognize excellence of hospitals. But is there any way to gauge professional integrity of nursing homes?

[Katie82, RN]

That is usually done on a state-by-state basis. Some states have referral lists, usually through the local Health Department or Office on Aging. Unfortunatly, most facilities do not attract attention until they have generated complaints. There really should be more regulation of LTCs.

[IEDave, ASN, CNA, LVN]

Ask, and it shall be given unto you (or something like that...)

http://www.medicare.gov/nhcompare/

This one's intended for families to decide what kind of a facility they want to put Grandpa into, but yes there is a rating system for nursing homes. It's also a dandy way to look for future employers, and avoid some of the nastier facilities.

----- Dave

[unsaint77]

future employer checking was what I had in mind. thanks Dave.

[DixieRedHead, ASN, RN]

That is usually done on a state-by-state basis. Some states have referral lists, usually through the local Health Department or Office on Aging. Unfortunatly, most facilities do not attract attention until they have generated complaints. There really should be more regulation of LTCs.

Long Term Care in the United States is the single most regulated industry in the WORLD.

The regulations many time contradict themselves. In North Carolina the state survey team funds it's self, pays it's own salary by the fines they levy.

The complaints generated mean that someone complained, not that something was wrong. Take this complaint. "Mama needs new glasses, and 'they' won't get her any." Mama is on medicaid and medicaid in this state no longer pays for glasses. What is the nursing home supposed to do, still a complaint was lodged.

There are legitimate complaints that go without being addressed because of the time that complaints like this take up.

It's a no win situation for all involved.