North Carolina’s nursing home ranking continued its downward spiral for the third consecutive report card as the state scored a failing grade for the first time by dropping from No. 35 to No. 50 overall, according to Families for Better Care, a national nursing home resident advocacy group based in Austin. The group published its third state-by-state nursing home report card by analyzing eight federal measures to gauge nursing home quality.
North Carolina’s ranking was beleaguered with failing grades in multiple quality measures, doubling the number of ‘F’s’ since its last report card and losing ratings ground in all but one statistical measure.
“North Carolina’s declining ranking shows a state that’s seemingly indifferent to vulnerable seniors,” said Brian Lee, the group’s executive director. “Lawmakers, state officials, and nursing home representatives should be ashamed that they’ve allowed the state’s nursing home ranking to plummet to this embarrassing level.”
According to the report card, the Tar Heel State had the third fewest number of nursing homes with an above average inspection rating, with nearly 80 percent of all nursing homes unable to achieve an above average score.
But poor inspection scores reveal a more troubling development. While almost every North Carolina nursing home (97 percent) neglected nursing home laws and regulations residents, 1 in 5 facilities were cited for the abuse and neglect of residents.
“Inadequate staffing levels continue to be a major problem in North Carolina nursing homes,” said Lee. “Residents are unable to be cared for properly if they receive less than 2 hours and 25 minutes of direct care per day.”
“A great way for Governor Cooper and North Carolina’s Legislature to reverse the state’s trajectory toward nursing home neglect is by passing, funding, and enforcing a tough staffing standard,” said Lee. “Higher nursing home staffing levels result in safer care for residents.”
North Carolina’s 2019 Nursing Home Report Card is available for download at http://www.nursinghomereportcards.com.
ABOUT FAMILIES FOR BETTER CARE
Families for Better Care, Inc. is a non-profit citizen advocacy group dedicated to creating public awareness of the conditions in our nation’s nursing homes and developing solutions for improving quality of life and care. For more information, visit http://familiesforbettercare.com.
