Opinions please on for-profit LTC facilities

Music in My Heart · May 21, 2009

I've been inside one for-profit (as a CNA student) and one not-for-profit (visiting a friend).

The former was a hell-hole. Disgusting, nasty, horrible... not enough linen, very little light, no greenery at all, the most inane and degrading "activities" you can imagine. If I were there I would jam a pencil into my eye or chew my tongue off and drown in my own blood.

The latter was actually OK. It still had "the funk" but the rooms were a little bigger, they had a nice lawn outside, and big windows. The resident were taken outside onto the lawn sometimes and even had BBQ out there. The dining room was pleasant and they had a little library and meeting room. Nothing fancy but nice enough.

As with all health care institutions, I firmly believe the profit motive and fiduciary responsibility to shareholders is directly at odds with optimal patient/resident care.

travel50 · May 21, 2009

I suspect there are good and bad in each type. I am the DON at a for profit home, managed by a different company than the ones mentioned. We love our residents dearly, and mine is the best staffed home in our area. Last week I fired an aide and the charge nurse on duty b/c I went in unannounced late at nite and found several of my people wet, one so much so that his sheet was brown. I simply will not tolerate my people getting less than the best care. One aide had said she felt that the aide in question was not doing her job. That is why I went in. In any facility, there are those who do not do their jobs right, but in my building, I will fire them. I will not tolerate that awful nsg home smell, linen will be clean and plentiful, and our residents go outside. If they are confused and not safe to be outside alone, we take turns going outside with them. We take those who can out to eat, bowling, shopping, fishing, to the movies, even home for special occasions with our families. We grill out at work, have special wine and cheese get togethers, and use our own money to buy things for them. I have never worked in a non profit facility, but like I said, there will be good and bad of both.

StNeotser, ASN, RN · May 21, 2009

I'm not sure if I can mention a company name but it's one of the ones you mentioned. I quit when I was an LPN in 2003.

I hated it. As was said previously in this post, they're more worried about their shareholders than the patients. They had a beautiful looking facility and it was very well maintained which is why I think family members thought it was OK to leave their loved ones there.

There was far too much paperwork for a floor nurse to get to grips with on a shift, I rarely did less than at least one hours overtime on a day or evening 8 hour shift. I never noticed anyone being deliberately abusive there but I think a lot of patients suffered due to neglect through lack of staffing. I would have 30 patients and two aides - so it's easy to see how neglect could have happened. If you seriously want to know more, PM me.

littlebitark · May 21, 2009

Think it depends on the DON, ADON, owners, and the workers- I work in a profit nursing home- not a big name one. It's the clean, no odors, plenty of CNA's and nurses- We work out butts off to care for our residents.

Moogie · May 23, 2009

Thank you all for your input. I think it is hard to categorize LTCs on the basis of for-profit vs. non-profit. I've worked for some non-profit facilities that have been all about the money---they were short staffed and ran out of supplies on a consistent basis---all of which negatively impact care.

I interviewed at a for-profit subacute care facility and was rather impressed with the professionalism of the staff and administration. I understand that subacute care can be fast-paced and challenging---that appeals to me. I also interviewed at a for-profit LTC and was impressed with the cleanliness of the institution. I also got good feedback from some of the CNAs about the management. It's important to me that management treats the staff professionally and with respect.

We shall see what happens!

Again, thanks!

achot chavi · May 24, 2009

Worked for both, prefer the nonprofit, but as was mentioned, there is good and bad and it fluctuates, a lot depends on the DON (the ADON is just working for the DON, so don't blame her if there are problems, it could be the DON's instructions to ignore some problem- for example our DON gave a head nurse job to an LPN whose surgeon hubby was tight with her surgeon hubby- worst LPN I ever met, even worse head nurse, pts were terrified of her, she sat all day doing her nails, smoking and drinking coffee in the staff room and bullied

the other nurses into doing her work for her, I caught her , wrote her up, documented everything - even got pics on the cameras in the hall and was told to leave her alone,...eventually it caught up to her- and everyone admitted I was right , but I am sure her ugly head will reappear soon)

Re travel50's repeated post about the late night surprise visits- u gotta do it every month and you will see an improvement!! I also just jump into bathrooms to check that the safety belt is used etc.

If the DON sets the bar high and sticks to her word, the place will shape up- private or not.

The bigger problem with private is that you are at the mercy of the owners who really only care how much goes into their pockets...