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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Feds Slam Nursing Homes for '1-Star' Care

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(Newser) – Rife with mistreated patients and poor conditions, nearly one quarter of US nursing homes received 1 out of 5 stars in a new Washington rating program. “The conditions described are grim and, at times, deadly,” Sam Roe writes in the Chicago Tribune of Illinois’ one-star homes. Cold food, useless staff, and late-night noise mar the low-scale facilities, Roe found. One reeked of urine and left patients to linger in their own filth.

"This nursing home was really bad," said its director of nursing. Workers “were punching in and doing nothing.” Despite recent improvements, one obese man died after being suffocated by his bed’s side rail. “Accidents do happen,” the director explained, but patients said staffers responded to complaints by pointing to a nearby cemetery. Critics call the star rankings superficial and misleading.

The federal government gave about a quarter of U.S. nursing homes one star out of five in its new rating system.
The federal government gave about a quarter of U.S. nursing homes one star out of five in its new rating system.   (Shutter Stock)
Nursing home operators and even some patient advocates have criticized the rankings as superficial and perhaps misleading.
Nursing home operators and even some patient advocates have criticized the rankings as superficial and perhaps misleading.   (Shutter Stock)
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At the Embassy Care Center, residents complained of cold food, staff not answering calls for help, loud employees keeping them up at night, and workers not relaying phone messages from family members. - Sam Roe, the Chicago Tribune

One-star nursing homes meet minimum standards but are considered 'much below average,' according to the federal rating system. - Sam Roe, the Chicago Tribune

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4 comments
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riffran
Feb 8, 09 12:05 AM CST
I worked in a nursing home for about a year, as a charge nurse......After one year I was "the old veteran" as far as staff was concerned, the turn over was atrocious, the constant staffing issues, and less than adequate coverage, the horrible food,, and some of the nurses there were, not quite ER material to put it lightly....either you were just passing through, burnt out, or unemployable elsewhere......and whats sad, is the elderly can be very complicated in regards to mental and physical health, and need and deserve better, but often don't get it, couple that with the family not coping well with long term health issues, and taking their frustrations out on the staff (in some cases deservedly so, but not always)....It gets hard to deal with...but the pointing to the cemetary bit?????? WTF? Thats outrageous, if I had ever caught someone abusing a resident like that, they were fired the family notified and the cops called, mental abuse is illegal also, and leaves scars that may not be seen but never heal......good greif Reply
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Sammy
Feb 8, 09 10:57 AM CST
Nursing homes are nothing but warehouses for old and very sick people. It is very sad and a reflection on our money obsessed, valuless society. Reply
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radnip
Feb 9, 09 4:29 AM CST
Unfortunately, the nursing home population is one of those good photo-op and quote groups but actual funding and care rarely comes through for them. This includes mothers and children. Reply
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left.right.left
Oct 16, 09 3:31 PM CDT
This is bull,issues like these are the exception and not the rule! its tragic when it occurs and those people should fry in hell,however i work in a nursing home,with stable loving caring staff.we love our residents . i am a dedicated professional with a degree i earned in order to work in rehab/geriatrics (not in an er).i hope than you understand that should you ever need someones help. Reply
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