State Toughens Rating System for NC Nursing Homes
Posted By Lanier Law Group on Jan 18, 2010 5:30am PST
This month, North Carolina began imposing tougher standards for nursing homes, making it more difficult for the facilities to get a top rating.
Starting this month, nursing homes can now receive a four star rating, where as in the past the highest rating they could receive was three stars. In order for a nursing home facility to receive four stars it must consistently meet high performance standards for two years. The new rating system will also factor in any penalties for violations the home receives.
Last year was the first year the rating system was in place, and about 95 percent of North Carolina nursing homes scored a three-star rating.
Preventing Nursing Home Abuse
If you are considering putting your loved one in a nursing home, it is imperative that you thoroughly research each and every facility you are considering. Researching a nursing home facility's ratings will give you a good idea as to the quality of treatment your loved one can expect to receive. Often times, abuse and neglect occurs because the home is understaffed, or the staff is comprised of people who are not qualified. Sometimes a nursing home may have a lot of minor violations, but that simply shows the facility is not operating on the highest quality level.
Simply put, before you admit your loved one into a nursing home, spend some time researching the facility, visiting the home, talking with staff members, observing the attitudes and appearance of the residents, paying attention to how clean the home is, etc. Proactively researching the quality of a facility is one of the best ways to prevent nursing home abuse.
If you are interested in learning more about nursing home abuse and neglect prevention, please contact Lanier Law Group today to schedule a consultation with an experienced North Carolina nursing home abuse lawyer!