It’s no secret. We’re getting older. And more of us are turning to nursing facilities to live out our golden years. In fact, about one-and-a-half million Americans now live in a full-time nursing home, according to data reported by the Nursing School Hub. A vast majority of nursing home residents – 88 percent – are aged 65 and older.
Every day across Florida and the US, families are confronted with challenging decisions about the needs of their elderly family members. For many, a nursing facility is the right decision. Unfortunately, many of them are not as safe as most families would like them to be.
More than 93 percent of nursing homes nationally have deficiencies that put residents at risk.
What is a deficiency?
The Nursing School Hub site breaks down classes of deficiencies in two categories:
Problems that diminish a resident’s quality of life. Examples could include unclean rooms and poor meal planning, which might not place residents in imminent danger, but may lead to unhappiness, emotional issues and health problems.
Problems which are urgent and serious. These deficiencies place residents in immediate jeopardy. Examples might include fire hazards, inadequate staffing and substandard medical care and can result in serious injury, harm or death.
In Florida, 9.4% of its nursing facilities have been cited with serious deficiencies.
What is Nursing Home Care?
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities provide skilled nursing care and assistance with daily tasks that residents are often unable to do without assistance, such as getting dressed.
The website claims that residents receive an average of 3.7 hours of direct nursing care per day and nearly an hour-and-a-half from a certified nurse. Residents can expect to receive dental, mental health, medical, pain management and dementia care. Most residents in nursing facilities – 8 in 10- according to the site, need help with daily living activities such as bed mobility, transferring, dressing, eating and toileting.
The numbers
1.5 million: Current nursing home residents in U.S.
1.7 million: Total nursing home beds in U.S.
835 days: Average length of time since admission (current residents)
88%: Nursing home residents 65+
45%: Nursing home residents 85 +
2%: Americans 65-84 who live in nursing homes
14%: Americans 85 and older who live in nursing homes
Your loved ones who live in nursing homes need caring nurses and nursing home staff to ensure they receive the care they deserve. Examples of nursing home neglect include bed sores, not changing soiled bed sheets or clothing, medication errors, and physical abuse. Too many facilities don’t have enough trained staff. Some nursing homes even alter patient records to avoid responsibility. Others use multiple corporations and inadequate insurance to discourage lawsuits. The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic has had verdicts and settlements against nursing homes for bed sores, burns and general neglect.
If a loved one suffered an injury while in a nursing home — or is not thriving while in the care of a nursing home — you may be right to suspect abuse or neglect.
It’s no secret. We’re getting older. And more of us are turning to nursing facilities to live out our golden years. In fact, about one-and-a-half million Americans now live in a full-time nursing home, according to data reported by the Nursing School Hub. A vast majority of nursing home residents – 88 percent – are aged 65 and older.
Every day across Florida and the US, families are confronted with challenging decisions about the needs of their elderly family members. For many, a nursing facility is the right decision. Unfortunately, many of them are not as safe as most families would like them to be.
More than 93 percent of nursing homes nationally have deficiencies that put residents at risk.
What is a deficiency?
The Nursing School Hub site breaks down classes of deficiencies in two categories:
In Florida, 9.4% of its nursing facilities have been cited with serious deficiencies.
What is Nursing Home Care?
Nursing homes and long-term care facilities provide skilled nursing care and assistance with daily tasks that residents are often unable to do without assistance, such as getting dressed.
The website claims that residents receive an average of 3.7 hours of direct nursing care per day and nearly an hour-and-a-half from a certified nurse. Residents can expect to receive dental, mental health, medical, pain management and dementia care. Most residents in nursing facilities – 8 in 10- according to the site, need help with daily living activities such as bed mobility, transferring, dressing, eating and toileting.
The numbers
Your loved ones who live in nursing homes need caring nurses and nursing home staff to ensure they receive the care they deserve. Examples of nursing home neglect include bed sores, not changing soiled bed sheets or clothing, medication errors, and physical abuse. Too many facilities don’t have enough trained staff. Some nursing homes even alter patient records to avoid responsibility. Others use multiple corporations and inadequate insurance to discourage lawsuits. The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic has had verdicts and settlements against nursing homes for bed sores, burns and general neglect.
If a loved one suffered an injury while in a nursing home — or is not thriving while in the care of a nursing home — you may be right to suspect abuse or neglect.
Sources: