(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Once a person has lived out most of his life, his last years should be ones of enjoyment, not mistreatment. However, that’s not the case for many people living in nursing facilities. Close to 1.5 million Americans are living in nursing homes, according to the CDC, but the standard of care isn’t always what it should be — especially in for-profit facilities.
Unfortunately, a new study has proven that people who reside in for-profit nursing homes are a significantly larger risk for suffering poor treatment at the hands of caretakers.
Results of the Study
According to a new study conducted by the University of Illinois at Chicago researchers, residents who reside in for-profit nursing homes are twice as likely to be neglected than those living in not-for-profit homes. Unfortunately, about 70 percent of nursing homes operate as for-profit.
The fact that for-profit nursing homes are often less-than-desirable is not exactly new news. Over the years, various studies have been conducted that research neglect risk in for-profit nursing homes by looking at indicators such as number of staff, inspection ratings and quality scores. And the results are clear: Time after time the average for-profit nursing home has been found to have a poorer standard of care than the average not-for-profit nursing home.
Why does this matter? According to study leader Dr. Lee Friedman, associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences in the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health: “For-profit nursing facilities pay their high-level administrators more, and so the people actually providing the care are paid less than those working at nonprofit places.”
Another reason the standard of care may be lower at for-profit facilities is that there’s more focus and pressure related to making money. For-profit nursing homes may also have shareholders who will hold the facility responsible for its earnings.
According to Friedman, these underpaid workers are often saddled with more responsibilities than they should be, which leads to a diminished morale and often neglect of the nursing home residents.
During the study, Friedman and his team developed an assessment tool they name the Clinical Signs of Neglect Scale (CSNS), which they used to quantify or assign numbers to over two dozen conditions that arise from neglect. Conditions that indicate clinical neglect are things such as severe dehydration, bed sores, broken feeding tubes and catheters, advanced sepsis symptoms and poor medication management.
The research team used the scale to evaluate the medical records of more than 1,100 patients who had had been treated for issues stemming from neglectful care at one of five major hospitals in Chicago between the years of 2007 and 2011. The most severe neglect was largely detected in patients living in for-profit facilities as opposed to those living in non-profit residencies or with family members.
Friedman Calls for Higher Standard of Care
To change things for the better, Friedman is calling for a higher standard of care at nursing home facilities, which includes accountability standards, including improved screening and reporting, and higher-quality training methods for staffers. But, as with any major change, these initiatives will take time.
What Should Family Members Do if They Suspect Neglect?
Even if a person has the utmost confidence in the nursing facility as a residence for their relative, it’s a good idea to periodically make an in-person visit to ensure the health and well being of the family member. By visiting at regular intervals, it should be easy to detect a decline in or lack of proper care.
Any signs of neglect, such as lack of mobility, malnutrition, dehydration, unsanitary living areas, unexplained injuries or bruises, emotional withdrawal and poor hygieneshould be taken seriously and reported to the correct authorities.
Local law enforcement should be immediately notified, and the family member should also seek legal counsel because nursing home abuse and neglect is a legal offense. Every effort should also be made to relocate the relative to a place where any pressing medical issues can be addressed.
Taking pictures of the family member’s injuries as soon as they are discovered, as well as any unsanitary conditions that are witnessed in the facility is also a good idea to support a claim of neglect.
According to a personal injury lawyer in Springfield IL, “To expedite legal review of your [negligence] claim, you should bring a copy of the medical records, police investigations, photographs, videos, Facebook pages, text messages, correspondence, insurance information, and any other evidence in your possession to your claim.”