Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog

A report released by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) shows that not all states have similar disclosure requirements with regard to sex offenders and parolees in nursing homes. Further, many long-term care facilities do not impose stricter supervisory requirements on those with prior convictions because they are either unaware of a prior conviction, or they base these supervisory decisions on residents' behaviors. Thus, many sex offenders or parolees may be monitored poorly until an incident results; at which time, it may be too late.

For the highlights of the report:
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For the full report:
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Two employees of a Michigan nursing home chain, Metron Integrated Health Systems filed confidential complaints in April alleging understaffing at the nursing home which lead to inadequate care. The nurses alleged that short staffing lead to patients who did not receive medications on time, nurses performing procedures for which they were unqualified, and falsified medical records.

When the employees’ supervisors failed to correct the problems, the employees filed complaints with the state Department of Community Health. The chain’s newly hired Chief of Operations said he did not know why the employees were fired, although another Metron employee said they were considered to be troublemakers for filing the complaints with the state.

For the full article:
http://www.mlive.com/news/kzgazette/index.ssf?/base/news-17/1148484008308770.xml&coll=7

For a related article: “States given incentives to pass False Claims Acts with Whistleblower provisions”
http://blog.levinperconti.com/_nursing_home_staff/

The NCCNHR’s “Giving Voice to Quality” program will educate nursing home residents and their families via conference calls. The first program will occur on May 9, 2006.

Information below:
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In a new report, Congressional investigators find that inspectors often over look violations in nursing homes. The article suggests that data used by the Bush administration to argue its policies have improved conditions in the nation’s nursing homes may be inaccurate.

The investigators found that conditions such as weight loss, falls, and pressure sores were understated by the nursing homes.

For the full article:
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South Carolina's Governor proposed a 5 ombudsmen increase in the 2005-2006 budget, adding to the current 15 long-term care ombudsmen. The state's senior citizen population is predicted to double in the next 15 years, and triple in the next 25 years and currently doesn't have the 1 ombudsmen per 2,000 beds recommended by the Institute of Medicine.
Source: NORC Gazette 1/21/05