Nursing Home Citations Increase

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USA Today recently reported that nursing home citations have increased 22% from 2000 to 2006.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Serices, which regulates nursing homes, claimed that more and more nursing homes are being cited for serious violations that are putting patients at risk.

The most serious type of cases being cited are patients who were physically or sexually abused as well as being left without their medications.

Around 2,000 violations were found by inspectors last year at 850 of the nation's 16,000 nursing homes. These account for the 6% violations reported. Recently, many states have increased their inspections at nursing homes.

Incomplete records for Medicare and Medicaid show that there has been more than 1,300 "immediate jeopardy" citations.

Nursing homes found with these citations are being told they aren't allowed to accept new Medicaid patients and have to pay fines.

For more information on this subject, please refer to the section on Nursing Home Neglect and Elder Abuse.