For Profit Nursing Homes Worse?

You must read this New York Times article from Sunday, September 23. It complements other writing on the topic that shows how for profit long term care providers create such a complex corporate legal structure that it is nearly impossible to identify, let alone sue, ownership. It shows how so often money is siphoned into these holding companies at the expense of resident care. Is it any wonder some activity directors have no budget and were all left scratching our heads feeling sorry. Well truth is that money is in the system just not in their budgets. Please read this and make your own conclusions when looking for a facility.

Grandma Gets Abused in Japan

Thousands of elderly people are abused at home by relatives in Japan, news reports said Saturday, as the country faces a rapidly aging population.

More than 12,600 cases of elderly abuse were reported in 2006, almost all of them at home, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry survey released Friday. About 50 cases involved abuse inflicted by staff at nursing homes.

The national survey, the first produced since a law aimed at preventing elderly abuse took effect in April, showed 80 percent of the victims were women aged 80 or older. The survey also showed about 40 percent of the abused suffered from dementia.

Despite Japan's traditional respect for the aged, increasing life spans and lack of welfare support systems have put increasing pressure on families caring for elderly parents and grandparents.

We often look to other cultures and cite their respect for the elderly. It is part of the reason there is so much guilt associated with having to choose a long term care option for a loved one. So take a lesson. Even a culture highly regarded in caring for their own finds itself in turmoil when faced with so many aging and so many needing care. It really is about knowing your limits as a caregiver, balancing your life and having a life and most importantly starting the hard health care discussions earlier.

Gifts for Nursing Home Patients

I don't usually take kindly to people selling in their blogs but I came across a unique one that actually does a great service. It is a gift basket company that devoted a post to talking about appropriate gifts to by loved ones in nursing homes. It is worth a read.

Blacks likelier to live in poor-quality nursing homes

A new report in the September/October issue of Health Affairs, finds that 60% of blacks in nursing homes ended up in just 10% of the facilities — typically ones that had been cited for quality problems. Interestingly the south was the least segregated around this issue. And that is consistent with what I see.

To me care has no color boundaries. I happen to come upon facilities that invest in a good quality of life for their residents. I can cite two off the bat. Guilford Healthcare in Greensboro, NC has a majority of black women as residents and I can tell you first hand that the care there is excellent. Same with Brian Center in Hickory, NC.

You know what else. These residents have such faith and a love for life that anyone coping with any adversity would be well to learn from them.

Poor care is poor care. You don't have to stand for it. Do your homework and look for alternatives for a loved one. And if an elder you know has no one to look after them, take the time to do so. I know there are gems of nursing homes even among the poorest, broken neighborhoods. Do your homework, refuse substandard care and insist on the best for your loved one.

House Bill 3162

U.S. House Bill 3162 is getting a lot of publicity these days because it addresses one of the most vulnerable segments of our population - that's right children. Its noble goal to expand health coverage to children comes at a price. Hidden in the bill is a provision to slash $2.7 billion in Medicare payments.

Listen, things are bad enough at our nursing homes when some can not even give their activity director more than $50 a month to cover residents' needs. And while I know there are for profit nursing homes out there and many making money, the sad truth is that the money never seems to filter down to direct care. And that effects our elderly directly. With 78 million boomers coming down the pike, with a World Health Ranking of 37, with chronic conditions abounding and a nation that is one of the most obese in the world, make no mistake these facilities will be needed. Not everyone will be able to age in place.