Over 100 VA Nursing Homes Being Investigated for Inadequate Care

 Posted on July 19, 2018 in Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse

The House Veterans Affairs Committee has begun an intensive investigation into the quality of care at 133 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) nursing homes after it was revealed that the VA itself ranks most of its facilities as seriously lacking. The agency’s internal rankings of its nursing homes had been kept secret for years, but they are now available for the public to view. The data is grim. Almost half of all VA nursing homes have been assigned the lowest possible score with regards to cleanliness, safety, and quality of patient care.

VA Facilities at Greater Risk for Pain and Medical Complications

Tragically, studies show that care for American war veterans is shockingly insufficient. An investigation headed by USA Today and The Boston Globe found that 60 VA nursing homes were given a score of one star out of five. In over two-thirds of VA nursing homes, patients were found to have higher rates of pain and a higher incidence of bedsores than nursing homes in the private sector. Residents in VA nursing homes show a greater decline in their quality of life than nursing home residents in private facilities.

Illinois nursing homes did not fare particularly well on quality-of-care rankings. The facility in Danville, IL, scored one out of five stars in part due to a resident who had a catheter left in their bladder. The lowest possible score for nursing home quality is one star. Other two-star nursing home facilities had high rates of bedsores and residents slipping and falling. The best-rated home in Illinois was in North Chicago and earned three stars out of five.

Advocates Call for Greater Transparency in VA-Run Facilities 

One former Marine stated best when he said, “Veterans deserve the best healthcare in the world. Period. That means having more transparency than private providers, not less.” The hidden rankings have caused many to question the quality of care veterans are receiving in nursing homes managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The agency was hesitant to release the results of their internal quality-control investigations until the media started insisting. The VA even told the public that their nursing homes provided high-quality care even when they knew that their residents were sicker than residents at private facilities. This is an unacceptable level of deceit. If families cannot find data about the quality of care at nursing homes, they cannot accurately determine which facility is the best fit for their aging loved one.

Personal Injury Attorneys Helping Elderly Victims

If your loved one has suffered due to poor care in a nursing home, contact an experienced Rockford personal injury lawyer for help. We will assist you and your loved in exploring your available options for taking action. To schedule your free initial consultation at Mannarino & Brasfield, call 815-215-7561 today.

Sources:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/17/va-nursing-homes-house-va-committee-launches-investigation/784014002/

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/07/17/congress-launches-investigation-alleged-poor-care-nursing-homes/KJdSUCNG5GPYsDAFwLPXsM/story.html