Review Nursing Home Ratings Before Admitting A Loved One

December 12, 2012

Review nursing home ratings before admitting a loved one

As the number of aging Americans increases, the need for high quality long-term care facilities is also rising. Deciding which home will provide the best quality of care can be challenging, but is a common concern when faced with such a task. In order to elucidate the varying standards across facilities, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) created a five-star rating system.

CMS nursing home rating system

Three primary factors are evaluated in determining the star rating for each home: health inspections, staffing and quality measures. First, each home is given a rating out of five in each of those categories. Then, an average is calculated for the home's overall score.

Generally, nursing homes are inspected annually by a team of experts, which always includes a minimum of one registered nurse. During the investigation, the team will evaluate the care provided to residents and the environment at the home. In addition to reviewing resident records, the investigators will also interview residents, their families and members of the staff.

As for staffing, nursing homes must employ a minimum of one registered nurse for eight continuous hours, every day of the week. In addition, these facilities must also have either an RN or a licensed practical nurse at the home at all times. In addition to these basic requirements, nursing homes are evaluated on their ability to provide an adequate standard of care to all residents based on their overall staffing levels.

Finally, quality measures are used to determine the level of care provided at nursing homes. These measures are based on the residents' physical and mental well-being. For instance, quality measures include whether residents are maintaining a healthy weight, have received flu shots or are in pain.

These metrics provide an overall assessment of the care provided at nursing homes across the country.

Ensure your loved one receives care from a highly qualified facility

Unfortunately, many nursing homes in West Virginia and across the United States fail to receive a high rating. In fact, according to a study of nursing home ratings over the past three years, many nursing homes consistently receive the lowest rating -- one star -- year after year.

The study revealed that over 560 nursing homes in the U.S. received a one-star rating for three consecutive years. The data was particularly surprising considering many long-term care facilities had improved ratings over the same period.

Whenever it is necessary to place a loved one in a nursing home, it is wise to review the CMS rating and visit the facility in advance. In the unfortunate and sometimes tragic situation in which a resident does not receive an adequate standard of care, a skilled, Morgantown personal injury attorney will ensure the injured resident's rights are protected.

Article provided by Brewer & Giggenbach, PLLC
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