It is unknown how many of our vulnerable elderly fall victim to neglect or abuse each year since such actions are easily hidden from view and underreported. In fact, according to the National Center for Elder Abuse (NCEA), 84 percent of abusive situations involving older adults go unreported or unrecognized.
Nursing Home Website Launches Tool to Warn of Abuse Violations
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the addition of a tool on their Nursing Home Compare website that will alert visitors about nursing homes that have been flagged for abuse and neglect violations.
The Nursing Home Compare website is designed to help visitors see which nursing homes in their area currently meet the federal standards on health, safety, staffing, and more. However, consumers have not previously had public access to reports of neglect or abuse by each nursing home.
Launching on October 23, 2019, a “do not proceed” symbol will be placed next to the names of facilities that have been cited for neglect or abuse in the past two years. Consumers can then read detailed reports on any neglect or abuse that has occurred at the facility and make an informed decision on whether to consider their services.
The status of each nursing home will be reviewed on a monthly basis which allows the most accurate and transparent portrayal of each facility. CMS explained that this monthly update will help nursing nomes that are actively making an effort to improve saying, “nursing homes will not be flagged for longer than necessary if their most recent inspections indicate they have remedied the issues that caused the citations for abuse or potential for abuse and no longer meet the criteria for the icon.”
The announcement of this tool comes shortly after the disturbing report of nearly 400 additional nursing homes that didn’t see federal punishments for their poor performance standards back in June.
Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect
Nursing home abuse and neglect is a widespread issue. A study based in New York estimated that 1 in 13 elders in the state of New York had been victims of at least one form of elder abuse in that year alone.
Nursing home abuse and neglect can take on many forms. Some of the most prevalent forms of neglect and abuse include:
- Bedsores
- Wandering and Elopement
- Understaffing
- Wrongful Death
- Falls
- Sexual Abuse
- Dehydration and Malnutrition
- Choking Negligence
Cleveland Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Lawyer
The lawyers at Tittle & Perlmuter have been fighting for victims of nursing home neglect and abuse for years. If you or a loved one has fallen victim to neglect or abuse at a nursing home or assisted living facility, contact an expert nursing home abuse and neglect lawyer to discuss your options.
For a free consultation, fill out a contact form or call Tittle & Perlmuter at (216)-285-9991.