Staffing is a key factor in determining a nursing home’s quality of care, according to new state-by-state analysis from advocacy group Families for Better Care.
The organization graded each state’s overall quality of nursing home care based on eight metrics, from the Kaiser Health Foundation, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and state long-term care ombudsman programs. Families for Better Care touts this as the first report of its kind.
“States whose nursing homes staffed at higher levels ranked far better than those with fewer staffing hours,” said Brian Lee, executive director of FBC and former Florida long-term care ombudsman. This finding supports what many stakeholders have been saying for years, Lee noted.
Alaska, Hawaii and Maine scored among the nation’s best for nursing homes, and all earned “A” grades in all staffing categories, such as direct care staffing hours and registered nurse hours. Alaska was ranked No. 1 in the nation overall. Rhode Island came in at No. 2, followed by New Hampshire.
Full article: http://www.mcknights.com/better-staffing-means-better-care-new-nursing-home-state-rankings-suggest/article/307083/
