Texas’ nursing homes are the worst in the nation, report finds
A recent report gave the nursing homes in Texas a failing grade.
Placing your loved one in a nursing home is a difficult decision, requiring you to trust the facility with the care of your relative. When nursing homes do not provide acceptable levels of care, they should be held responsible for any harm that comes as a result.
According to a report – recently compiled by Families for Better Care, a nonprofit organization – families with a loved one in a nursing home in Texas should be particularly concerned.
The report found that the nursing homes in Texas are the worst in the United States – the second year in a row the state has earned that ranking. The nursing homes in the state received failing grades in six of the eight categories used to determine the rankings.
Staffing levels in Texas’ nursing homes are the worst in the country. Overall, just under 14 percent of the nursing homes in Texas have staffing levels that are above average for direct care staff. In addition, only 8.7 percent of the facilities have above average professional nurse staffing levels. Consequently, direct care staff provide only an average of 2.2 hours of care for nursing home residents in Texas every day. In addition, professional nurses provide an average of only 1.45 hours of care daily.
In addition to the poor staffing levels, almost 95 percent of Texas’ nursing homes were cited for a deficiency and less than 23 percent had health inspection reports that were above average.
Texas senator proposes “three strikes” rule
As a result of these alarming statistics, one Texas senator has proposed a plan to improve the quality of the state’s long-term care facilities.
The so-called three strikes rule would establish a process to close nursing homes that are not considered safe. If a nursing home was found in violation of the most serious quality standards three times during a two-year period, the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services could then shut down the facility.
The senator believes this proposal would serve to protect the almost 94,000 seniors currently living in nursing homes in Texas.
Protect your loved one from nursing home abuse and neglect
If you have a loved one who is living in a nursing home in Texas, you should take action if you think he or she has been mistreated. Nursing home abuse or neglect can come in many forms, resulting in injuries such as bedsores, dehydration or malnutrition.
In such cases, you should talk to a skilled personal injury lawyer, who will work on behalf of your loved one to make certain they receive any compensation to which they may be entitled.
Keywords: Texas, nursing home
