Interesting that two states in the deep, dark, benighted, behind-the-times, retro South are #5 and 9 on this honor roll. Why, I wonder.
I hope staff and clients in those states will see or hear about this ranking, take the credit that's richly due them and tell us how they excel and what are the attitudes and values of their region that promote good elder care.
I inspected nursing homes ("skilled nursing facilities" - the official designation) for the State of California. The difference between a good place and a lousy one has nothing to do with the grounds, the decoration of the rooms and halls--even the often-unavoidable smell of urine. It has to do with the hearts of the owners and staffs. If management hires sufficient staff and writes good patient-care policies ("good" meaning "enforced" as well as well-thought-out), you'll have a good place.
As usual, the trouble, is that most nursing homes are corporate owned. Corporations are required by law to maximize profits for their shareholders. The most expensive item in any nursing home's budget is always the weekly payroll, so the best way to increase profits is to cut staff.
You can see where this leads: It leads to bedsores because aides don't have enough time to keep changing the weak and disabled patients' positions in their beds. It leads to abuse because an overworked, underpaid, usually minority-race person has too little time, money, help or supplies to do the job right.
That's why inspecting agencies, federal and state, have to be super-vigilant (often they aren't) and why the best way to ensure good care is for family and friends to show THEY still care--and that they intend to require that the home does good work.
Remember: Nursing homes are EXTREMELY sensitive to patients and families complaining to state health departments. It brings often-costly attention from health-department officials. USE THAT LEVERAGE, FOLKS! COMPLIMENT WHAT'S GOOD AND RE[PORT WHAT'S NOT.
Anyway, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL YOU GOOD STATES. TELL US WHY YOU'RE THE BEST.
Mitch Clogg
Mendocino, CA
Mitch Cloggof CA5:10PM October 22, 2010
While some may overcharge and pad bills, the majority are trying to provide a service at a reasonable price. It is very expensive to care for the chronically sick individual. A well trained staff is needed and facility that will accomodate various disabilities. A CNA is not trained to the level of RN or RN BSN. As far as Ronald Reagan's "freeing" of the mentally ill. We can all see evidence of that when visiting a homeless shelter.
s michaelof OK5:50AM October 03, 2010
Though I may agree with the assesment that rates can be costly. There are many many factors you must consider that go into charging these rates. Most nursing homes do not make a very huge profit due to esclating costs of requirements mandated by the State and / or Federal Government. Let us not forget the liability insurance alone is very costly due to many people out for an easy buck. As a society it is very scary that we are so focused on how we can sue rather than how we can fix it. I emphathize with anyone who has to deal with a nursing home. At the same time it is something that is much needed and we must all be accountable no matter what profession we choose. Just bear in mind that more and more nursing homes are closing down not because of health care issues rather escalating costs and unprecedented government demands. We as citizens of the United States need to embrace our liberties and our choices rather than being fixated on criticism. This is our problem ..it is just to damn easy to blame someone else than be accountable ourselves.
Mike Harrisof AZ4:20PM July 15, 2010
The USA needs mental health care facilities for all these people that are either force into "group homes" that don't really work or they go through the short term mental hospitals revolving door. You can't expect mentally ill people to take their meds and stay on them without some type of constant supervision. With the HIGH price of some of these assisted living places and with staff that are over whelmed with some really sick people, something has to be done. I have seen it with my own eyes on what can and does go on. No, I'm not in the medical business or in mental health. I have a family member that suffers greatly from mental illness and has the financial resourses to get what little help there is. It is the people that don't have the means that really need the help of a long term facilities in EVERY state. Instead you have all these sick folks going in and out of that revolving door. You think how much would it cost to have these mental hospitals..It's already costing us. I don't have a great solution. They closed the mental hospitals way back when and just relied on people to fend for themselves. All in all people need help and it's just not there. We are a broken in so many ways.
Lily Commonsof NV8:48PM June 03, 2010
THEASE PLACES ARE GETTING RICH OFF THE POOREST KIND OF PEOPL NO PLACE SHOULD CHARGE $4000.00 EACH MONTH FOR EACH PERSON IT'S NOT WORTH IT THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND SHOULD BE STOPED WHEN PRESIDENT RONALD R CLOSED THE MINTAL HOSPITALS HE MADE PLACES LIKE CENTINELA SKILLED NURSING CENTER TAKE THE MENTALY CHALENGE IN THE CNA'S ARE TRAIND FOR THIS KIND OF CARE AN AS A RESIDENT I FEEL THIS IS NOT RIGHT THEY OVER CHARGE AND THEY GET AWAY WITH IT DUBBLE BILLING AND PADDING THE BILL WITH THING THEY DO NOT PROVIDE THIS IS GOT TO STOP.....
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Mitch Clogg of CA 5:10PM October 22, 2010
s michael of OK 5:50AM October 03, 2010
Mike Harris of AZ 4:20PM July 15, 2010
Lily Commons of NV 8:48PM June 03, 2010
SANDIE CRISP of CA 12:13PM March 25, 2010