Personal Injury Law

State Combats North Carolina Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect with Tougher Ratings Standards

Beginning this week, the state of North Carolina is imposing tougher standards on assisted living facilities. Nursing homes can now receive a four star rating, but it will be harder to earn this highest rating and a facility will have to earn high ratings for over two years. Nursing home violations, such as medication mistakes, nursing home neglect, poor nursing care, hazardous conditions, inadequate worker training, and poor sanitation, will now count against a nursing home when its rating is determined. North Carolina investigators visit assisted living facilities throughout the year. A facility's rating is posted within 45 days of the visit.

North Carolina?s new rating system went into effect in 2007. The Division of Adult Care Licensure began issuing star ratings last year but previous penalties for inadequate care weren?t factored into the assessments.

While the rating system provides a guide for family members seeking to find the proper assisted living facility for their loved one, it is still important for relatives to visit prospective nursing homes, talk to workers, and observe the facilities and the residents. North Carolina nursing home negligence continues to be a problem at a number of facilities and it is the sick and elderly patients that suffer.

Bedsores, sudden weight loss, unexplained weight gain, poor hygiene, unexplained bruises, bedsores, fall injuries, change in the patient's behavior, mood swings, and depression are some signs that a nursing home patient may be the victim of abuse or neglect. A sick or elderly person can die because of nursing home negligence.

Elder-care ratings get tougher, Charlotte Observer, January 5, 2010

NC adds 4-star rating for adult-care homes, Daily Comet, January 4, 2010

Related Web Resources:
Star Rating Program, NC Division of Adult Care Licensure

Nursing Homes, North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services

Full post as published by North Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog on January 05, 2010 (boomark / email).