Have You or a Loved One Been Harmed in a Nursing Facility

Unfortunately, resident abuse, neglect and harm occur commonly happen in Nursing Homes.

Have you or a loved one been harmed in a nursing facility. Are you or a loved one considering a nursing facility. Do you know someone who has been harmed in a nursing facility.

Over the last two years abuse, neglect and harm have been occurring more frequently and with greater regularity in Nursing Homes, (as well as in other long-term care facilities).  Hopefully, a change to reporting requirements will help residents and families to identify facilities that have a history of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

As of October 23, 2019, a new icon (a red circle with a hand) will appear on the Nursing Homes Compare profile on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (The website is easily found by typing in “Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Nursing Home Compare” in your search engine.)

Clicking on the icon should bring you to a page that will show if the facility has been cited for either/both deficiencies:

a. Where residents have been harmed by abuse on a recent survey.

b. Where residents are a risk of potential harm on a recent survey.

A harm-level (scope and severity level G or higher) abuse citation on the most recent standard survey cycle or complaint survey within the past 12 months.

An abuse citation where residents were found to be potentially harmed (scope and severity level D or higher) on the most recent standard survey cycle or complaint survey within the past 12 months and on the previous standard survey cycle or complaint survey in the prior 12 months.

Many thanks are owed to the tireless and selfless effort of those individuals and advocacy groups that lobbied Congress on behalf of these changes that help improve the lives of those who reside in these facilities.  We also thank the Long Term Care Community Coalition for reporting on these changes.

We firmly believe that instances of abuse, neglect or exploitation should be reported and pursued.  Speaking out helps protect the victim and helps to prevent recurrence.