Quality of Illinois Nursing Homes Is On The Rise

A new study released by ABT Associates reveals that the quality of Illinois nursing homes as well as those in other states is on the rise, but there are still many homes with serious deficiencies when it comes to quality. The study compares nursing homes in each state and the District of Columbia between 2009 and 2011 and used the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ranking system of stars, with one star being the lowest score and five stars the highest.

The percentage of four and five star nursing homes increased in 47 states with Montana, Idaho, and Hawaii being the only exceptions. This is good news for those in Illinois who may be facing a decision to place a loved one in a nursing home. The rating system was designed to provide families with the ability to easily compare the overall quality of nursing homes within a geographic so that consumers could make informed decisions about where their loved ones would be placed.

The rankings themselves are based on three categories: performance on health inspections, staffing levels when compared to the number of residents, and quality measures. Nursing homes receive scores in each of these categories which are compared and ranked among other homes in the state. These scores have been seen as influential in the industry and many nursing homes now advertise their scores in an attempt to attract new residents.

Some have speculated that the implementation of the rating system has encouraged nursing homes to tailor their care to increase their scores. This can be done by improving their performance during health inspections or increasing the number of nurses that are on staff at the facility. Both of these improvements lead to better care of residents in the homes, the overall goal of the health inspections and one goal of the rating system.

Between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of one star nursing homes in Illinois decreased while the percentage of five star homes increased, meaning that the proportion of homes providing the highest quality of care increased. This means that a higher percentage of Illinois nursing home residents were living in high quality nursing homes in 2011 than they had been just two years prior.

The increase in the percentage of quality homes is good news for all of those in Illinois but it should not be taken to mean that nursing home abuse or neglect is being eliminated. The facts show that abuse can happen in homes with high rankings or with low rankings and can occur once or multiple times during a resident’s stay. It is important to realize that though your loved one may be placed in a respected home, it does not guarantee an environment free from neglect.

If you suspect your loved one may have been abused or neglected while a resident in a nursing home, call the Illinois nursing home abuse attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. today for a no obligation telephone consultation. At Abels & Annes, P.C., we will put our years of experience to work and we will fight for the rights of your loved one. Call us now toll free at (855) 529-2442 or locally at (312) 924-7575 and take advantage of our free consultation today.

Prior Blog Entries:

21 Nursing Home Employees Criminally Charged for Abuse of Alzheimer’s Patients, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, published July 5, 2013.

Medicare Fraud Conviction Demonstrates Risk for ID and Other Theft in Illinois Nursing Homes, Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer Blog, published June 28, 2013.

Resources:

Nursing Home Compare Five-Star Quality Rating System: Year Three Report, by Abt Associates, Inc., prepared for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, published June 7, 2013.