AARP calls for nursing home reform

Report shows quality care in
New York on the decline

ALBANY — AARP released a report detailing a decline in New York’s nursing home care and called upon the state’s leaders to take action. The report, entitled “Fostering the Highest Quality Care in New York State’s Nursing Homes,” illustrates patterns of deficiencies within New York’s nursing home industry, including the doubling of patient abuse complaints at a time when overall nursing home profits have grown.

“By all indications, the quality of care in New York’s nursing homes is declining and must be addressed,” said Jo Freedman, a member of the National Legislative Council of AARP. “Families must be assured that their loved ones are cared for properly in New York’s nursing homes.”

The report was compiled for AARP by Thomas Dennison, PhD., a professor with the Health Services Management and Policy Department within Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. The report focuses on nursing home finances, government oversight and quality of care provided.

The major findings of the report include:

Nursing home profits/surpluses totaled $1.8 billion over the past five years.

A 30-percent reduction in nursing home survey staff.

A doubling of patient abuse complaints.

In addition, the report illustrates that residents in New York nursing homes tend to be more frail on average than nursing home residents in the rest of the country.

“With New York having a more frail population residing in nursing homes, we not only have a legal, but a moral obligation to give them the best possible care,” said Lois Aronstein, AARP NYS Director.

AARP recommends the following actions to be taken based on the study’s findings to improve nursing home quality in New York State.

Establish “Nursing Home Report Cards.” Provide more information to help families make difficult decisions on nursing home care for family members.

Increase state funding to hire more nursing home survey teams and to train more volunteers in the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program to increase oversight and to assure quality care is being delivered.

Establish a “Resident Quality Care Fund.” The new program would use nursing home fines collected by the Department of Health to fund “best practices” that would directly increase the daily quality of life of a nursing home resident.

Require minimum staffing levels in nursing homes based on a person’s needs in order to maintain their health, dignity and self-respect.