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Georgia nursing homes probed
By
Carrie Teegardin and Andy Miller Eleven Georgia nursing homes
are highlighted as chronic offenders in a new national report on poor care
for the nation's elderly. The report by Consumers Union,
a nonprofit organization, identified facilities that appeared for three
consecutive years on its "Nursing Home Watch List." The group, which publishes
Consumer Reports magazine, uses state inspection data to identify homes
that it believes to be providing questionable care. Those identified as
chronic offenders are scattered across Georgia. Another 26 Georgia homes are
included on this year's "Watch List." Consumers Union places 10
percent of each state's nursing homes on the list, using a formula to rate
homes. The formula weighs more heavily the most serious violations,
especially those related to quality of care. The formula also penalizes
homes for repeat violations and the failure to make its inspection reports
readily available. Nationwide, more than 1,700
homes were placed on the most recent "Watch List." Of those
homes, 290 have been on the list for each of the past three years. The Georgia Nursing Home
Association said six of the 11 Georgia facilities cited as chronic
offenders by Consumers Union have recently changed operators or are in the
process of doing so. A seventh home is in bankruptcy. "We hope the new operators
will bring them into compliance,'' said Fred Watson, president of the
nursing home association. Next month, the organization
will join the state Department of Community Health in launching a
statewide quality improvement program for nursing homes. Watson said it
will gather data on clinical care and family satisfaction, and will train
facilities to identify and fix deficiencies. "We recognize there is a
problem, and we're trying to do something about it,'' he said. "It's
a form of self-regulation.'' There are 370 nursing homes in
Georgia. Becky Kurtz, Georgia's
long-term-care ombudsman, said many Georgia nursing home residents
continue to receive poor care, despite improvement efforts. "I do think there are some
people who are trying really hard," Kurtz said. "But I also
believe we've got a long way to go." Kurtz said low staffing remains a serious problem. Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging |
