Why Medicare Ratings for Nursing Homes matter

Why Medicare Ratings for Nursing Homes matter 150 150 Lauren Ellerman

Would you eat at a restaurant the local health department has rated a D in food safety?

Probably not knowingly.

So why then, do families place their loved ones in facilities that Medicare has openly rated a 1 out of 5 stars on patient safety? Hopefully, families don’t do this knowingly. They sadly didn’t realize that nursing homes are inspected and rated by state and federal agencies on various safety standards, and that many just don’t make the grade.

In today’s USA Today is an article that explains why many nursing homes will see lower rankings as the feds begin to tighten nursing home rating standards. And as advocates for better patient care, we are glad to see these standards changing to reflect the lack of care being offered in many facilities.

But until families begin to make choices based on these ratings, there will be little motivation for facilities to change.

So, please – when choosing a nursing home for rehab or long term care – take ten minutes to read the most recent ratings in your community.

Visit this site – and type in your zip-code: http://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html

The more you know!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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About the author

Lauren Ellerman

In 2011, Lauren Ellerman was named "Young Lawyer of the Year" by the Roanoke Bar Association for her work in the community. To speak with Lauren about your personal injury case, contact her at lellerman@frithlawfirm.com.

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