The lobby smelled of urine. In one room, they found a 97-year-old woman, lying in her own waste. She had severe bruises on her arm, foot and both legs that the staff could not immediately explain. Another resident had a bed sore larger than a golf ball and dripping blood.
This was life in one of Illinois' "one-star" nursing homes.
These health violations—and two dozen more—were documented last year on a single inspection of the Berwyn Rehabilitation Center, contributing to its dubious distinction as one of the area's worst nursing homes.
The federal government is now rating nursing facilities on a 1 to 5 star system. Although conditions at one-star homes are startling, what is perhaps more alarming is their prevalence: About a quarter of U.S. nursing homes, including 81 in the six-county Chicago area, received one star.
A government Web site began posting ratings on these homes in December. Nursing home operators and even some patient advocates have criticized the rankings as superficial and perhaps misleading. And the detailed information behind those ratings is not readily available to the public.
But the Tribune obtained the most recent inspection reports for the area's lowest-rated homes through a Freedom of Information Act request. The conditions described are grim and, at times, deadly—as the Berwyn facility demonstrates.
Full Article and Source:
Misery: Inside a 1-star nursing home
See also:
Nursing Home Ratings
This was life in one of Illinois' "one-star" nursing homes.
These health violations—and two dozen more—were documented last year on a single inspection of the Berwyn Rehabilitation Center, contributing to its dubious distinction as one of the area's worst nursing homes.
The federal government is now rating nursing facilities on a 1 to 5 star system. Although conditions at one-star homes are startling, what is perhaps more alarming is their prevalence: About a quarter of U.S. nursing homes, including 81 in the six-county Chicago area, received one star.
A government Web site began posting ratings on these homes in December. Nursing home operators and even some patient advocates have criticized the rankings as superficial and perhaps misleading. And the detailed information behind those ratings is not readily available to the public.
But the Tribune obtained the most recent inspection reports for the area's lowest-rated homes through a Freedom of Information Act request. The conditions described are grim and, at times, deadly—as the Berwyn facility demonstrates.
Full Article and Source:
Misery: Inside a 1-star nursing home
See also:
4 comments:
I looked up the ratings on the infamous long term care we dealt with in Illinois. Don't count on the health inspections to mean a thing. They are conducted by IDPH and are subject to lobbyists pressure, (bribes) and influence peddling.
While the facility received a 3 star inspection rating, poor Annie suffered. She had no working call light, was in 10 rooms in 3 months, lost her glasses and false teeth upon admission, lost 20# and all abilities in 5 weeks with no intervention, complained of sexual threats recorded as mental aberrations. When she was finally admitted for rehydration, she had a documented pubic area wound.
Prior to admission, she ate breakfast out daily with friends, enjoyed conversation, fed herself, walked and went to the bathroom with assistance.
Don't trust any long term care on a rating!
I think an outdoor dog house would be better than a 1 star rated nursing home.
The thing is 5 star nursing homes aren't generally any better. They may smell better, but the care can be just as substandard.
Wake up AMERICA, this could be YOUR story.
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