Long-term care in Missouri is facing a crisis that demands immediate attention and action with a focus on Missouri’s Troubled Nursing Facilities.
Widespread neglect, understaffing, and financial mismanagement in troubled nursing facilities put countless vulnerable residents at risk.
The recent closure of Northview Village Nursing Home, which displaced 170 residents, is just one example of the systemic failures plaguing our state’s long-term care facilities.
Key Issues in Missouri’s Troubled Nursing Facilities
- Chronic Understaffing: Many facilities operate with dangerously low staffing levels, leading to preventable harm like untreated pressure ulcers and medication errors. Residents often suffer due to insufficient care, which can lead to severe health complications and diminished quality of life. The lack of staff also means that personal attention and timely interventions are often unavailable.
- Inadequate Supervision: Lack of proper oversight results in preventable accidents, a disturbing prevalence of physical and sexual abuse, and tragic instances of self-harm. This inadequate supervision allows for incidents of violence and neglect to go unnoticed and unaddressed, further endangering residents.
- Financial Misconduct: Through related party transactions, operators obscure payments to companies they own and divert Medicaid and Medicare funds for profit, neglecting resident care. This financial exploitation undermines the quality of services provided to residents, as resources intended for care are misallocated.
- Regulatory Failures: Missouri ranks poorly in nursing home quality, with repeated citations failing to prompt improvements. The lack of enforcement of existing regulations means that facilities continue to operate below acceptable standards, putting residents at risk.
Recommendations for Reform
To address these pressing issues, we need to implement comprehensive reforms that will transform the landscape of long-term care in Missouri and improve Missouri’s Troubled Nursing Facilities:
- Increase Funding for Ombudsman Programs: Enhanced funding will improve resident advocacy and protect their rights. Ombudsmen play a crucial role in identifying issues within facilities and advocating for residents’ needs.
- Strengthen Ownership Oversight: Implement stricter nursing home transfer regulations to prevent exploitation. By ensuring that only qualified and ethical operators manage these facilities, we can protect residents from neglect and abuse.
- Establish Minimum Staffing Requirements: Set a minimum direct care staffing requirement to ensure adequate resident care. Adequate staffing levels are essential to provide the necessary care and attention that residents deserve.
- Conduct Regular Audits: Quarterly audits of staffing levels using CMS data will enforce compliance and transparency. These audits will help ensure facilities meet the required standards and provide quality care.
- Enhance Medicaid Audits: Prevent financial abuse and ensure funds used for resident care by implementing regular audits. This will help redirect resources to where they are needed most, improving the overall quality of care.
Call to Action
We urge legislators, the press, and long-term care consumers to advocate for change. It’s time to hold long-term care owners accountable and improve residents’ lives. By reforming our laws and enforcing higher standards, we can protect the dignity and well-being of Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens.
“The time for change is now. We must act decisively to ensure that all residents receive the quality care and respect they deserve.”
Together, we can create a safer and more compassionate environment for those in long-term care. Your voice matters. Join us in advocating for a future where every resident is treated with dignity and respect and where long-term care facilities are places of safety and healing.