Nursing Abuse Neglect Violations Continue

Nursing homes designated as special focus facilities are required to fix lapses in care or risk losing federal funding of Medicare and Medicaid. Special focus status is reserved for the worst of the worst nursing homes across the country and is considered the federal government’s strictest form of oversight.

Unfortunately, despite the increased scrutiny that comes with the title, a recent analysis found that more than 50 percent of nursing homes that graduated from special focus status went on to provide dangerous care.

In fact, recurrences of patient harm rarely translate into a return to the watch list and, more often than not, nursing homes do not lose Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements so there is little incentive to improve.

Many nursing home abuse and neglect violations include giving patients the wrong medications, failing to protect residents from violence and harm at the hands of other residents or staff, and neglecting to tell families and physicians about patient injuries that may worsen without intervention. Most care facilities have too few nurses or staff to provide needed care.

The recent findings are disheartening for many who have family members who receive nursing home care. It is unacceptable that poor performing facilities entrusted with the care of the elderly can continue to operate putting patients at risk for injury or death.

Contact an Iowa Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Attorney

If you or a family member has been injured in an Iowa nursing home, it is important to contact an experienced nursing home neglect and abuse lawyer to hold the facility accountable and get the compensation needed to recover your losses.  Des Moines personal injury lawyer John T. Hemminger can help.  Contact our Iowa Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect team for a free consultation of your case today at 515-283-2116.