How Nursing Home Cuts Will Affect Treatment of the Elderly

13 Oct How Nursing Home Cuts Will Affect Treatment of the Elderly

Many sources believe that nursing homes in the United States will be aversely affected by nursing home cuts and healthcare cutbacks, now and in the not-too-distance future.
As reported by the Associated Press, a Medicare rate adjustment was recently put into effect by the federal centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The economic value of this cut is estimated to be nearing 16 billion dollars. Keep in mind this is in addition to the nursing home cuts that were already being ordered on the state level. David Hebert, an official for the American Health Care Association, stated that he could foresee many homes “having to close their doors” and all nursing homes “having to let staff go” as the 2000 decade comes to a close.

The problem is, when a nursing home is understaffed, this typically results in nursing home abuse and neglect. When a nursing home is short on staff, it taxes the regular workers beyond what they can bear. Even if these individuals remain patient and resist becoming aggressive with their patients, they still cannot be in all places at once. Senior neglect, which is a form of elderly abuse,could take place.

There are believed to be over 16,000 nursing homes in the U.S. to date according toUSA Today. It’s easy to see that many U.S. nursing homes are being pushed to the brink with the budget crisis. The New York Times reported several years ago that over 90 percent of all nursing homes in the United States were understaffed. An understaffed facility is an unqualified one.

However, budget crisis or not, your elderly relatives do not deserve nursing home abuse. If the facility cannot afford to take care of its patients, then its doors should be closed and you should look into other options. In the meantime, if your relative has been abused by a nursing home, then it’s time for you to come forward and pursue legal options. You may be entitled to compensation for your family’s injuries. Contact the Rasansky Law Firm at 1-800-ATTORNEY or complete our form and get a free consultation.