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A PERFECT CAUSE |
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America’s Long Term
Care Crisis
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PREDATORS IN AMERICA'S NURSING HOMES
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Over 800 Predators Residing In Nursing Homes
Predators are residing in America's nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
These predators include prison and county jail inmates, parolees, sex offenders, registered
sex offenders, and violent offenders who are found incompetent to stand trial, violent offenders with diminished mental capacity, and convicted felons.
Many offenders are placed in long-term care facilities by state and county agencies.
A Perfect Cause has uncovered over 800 predators living in long-term care facilities with vulnerable
residents, including people with disabilities and our elders. The actual number of offenders is estimated to be much higher.
Due to the efforts of A Perfect Cause and U.S. Representatives Waxman, Carson, and McCollum, along with U.S.
Senator Grassley - an in-depth federal investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is currently underway.
A Perfect Cause
Predators in Nursing Homes Section
Search for Predators in Long Term Care Facilities
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DEATHS
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Over 35,000 American's Dying From Neglect & Abuse, Each Year
"...35,000 Americans (nursing home residents) are dying prematurely, or in unnecessary pain, or both."
TIME
"Fatal Neglect"
October 27, 1997
"One nursing home resident could be dying every 15 minutes, from neglect or abuse."
Wes Bledsoe
A Perfect Cause
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NEGLECT
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Deaths Due to Neglect - Likely to Grow
"...more than half the suspicious deaths studied in California nursing homes were probably due to neglect, including malnutrition
and dehydration. The study says that nearly 1 in 3 California nursing homes has been cited by state inspectors for "serious or potentially life-threatening
care problems" and that the same problems probably exist across the nation. These are likely to grow..."
TIME
"Shining A Light On Abuse"
August 3, 1998
"1 of 12 nursing home deaths, are probably due to neglect or abuse."
Ila Swan
National Long-Term Care Reform Advocate
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ABUSE
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Thousands of Nursing Homes Cited for Abuse
Over thirty percent of the nursing homes in the United States -- 5,283 nursing
homes -- were cited for an abuse violation that had the potential to cause
harm between January 1999 and January 2001. These nursing homes were cited
for almost 9,000 abuse violations during this two-year period.
Many Abuse Violations Caused Harm
Over 2,500 of the abuse violations in the last two years were serious enough
to cause actual harm to residents or to place residents in immediate jeopardy
of death or serious injury. In total, nearly 10% of the nursing homes in
the United States -- 1,601 nursing homes -- were cited for abuse violations
that caused actual harm to residents or worse.
Many Violations Discovered Only After Filing Formal Complaints
The data indicate that over 40% of the abuse violations -- over 3,800 in
the two-year period -- were discovered only after the filing of a formal
complaint.
Nursing Homes with Abuse Violations Increasing
The percentage of nursing homes cited for abuse violations has increased
every year since 1996. In 2000, over twice as many nursing homes were cited
for abuse violations during annual inspections than were cited in 1996.
US House of Representatives
Prepared for Rep. Henry A. Waxman
July 30, 2001
Abuse Cases Cited - Many Cases Improperly Reported by Nursing Homes
In a review of 111 nursing home abuse cases in three states, 54 were not
reported to the state agency within the 24 hour required timeframe. In 37
cases, the state agency was notified 2 to 7 days late. In nine instances,
they were notified a week to 2 weeks late and in eight cases the state was
notified over 2 weeks late.
US Senate Hearings
Safeguarding
Our Seniors:
Protecting the Elderly from Physical and Sexual Abuse in Nursing Homes
March 4, 2002
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POOR CONDITIONS
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Many Homes Fail to Meet Federal Standards for Adequate Care
Since November 1999, the Special Investigations Division has prepared reports
on nursing home conditions. These reports confirm that many nursing homes
violate federal health and safety standards and that these violations often
involve the serious neglect and mistreatment of residents.
Of the 2,101 nursing homes analyzed from California (Bay area), Missouri,
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, D.C. (86%) had at
least one violation with the potential to cause more than minimal harm to
residents or worse. 44% had a violation that caused actual harm to nursing
home residents.
US House of Representatives
Reports and Studies
November 1999- February 2002
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UNDERSTAFFING
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Report Shows Nine of Ten U.S. Nursing Homes Understaffed
Report Shows Nine of Ten U.S. Nursing Homes Understaffed
Letter to CMS Administrator, Tom Scully - 90% of nursing homes have staffing
levels that are too low to provide adequate care.
Congressional Letter to CMS
From Sen. Grassley & Rep. Waxman
Apr. 17, 2002
97 Percent of Nursing Homes Fail to Meet These Standards
Nurse staffing at 2.4 - 2.8, 1.15 - 1.30, and 0.55 - 0.75 hrs/resident day for nurse aides, licensed staff (RNs and LPNs combined), and Registered
Nurses, respectively results in patterns of incremental benefits. Quality is improved with increases in staffing up to these thresholds.
Report to Congress: Phase II
Minimum Nurse Staffing Ratios in Nursing Homes
December 24, 2001
Connection Between Insufficient Staffing & Poor Nursing Home Conditions
One reason for the poor care received by many nursing home residents is
insufficient staffing. The Special Investigations Division finds many nursing
homes in California (Bay area), Illinois (Chicago area), and Oklahoma do
not have enough staff to meet staffing levels recommended by federal officials
and nursing home experts. These reports also indicate that there is a connection
between insufficient staffing and poor conditions in nursing homes.
US House of Representatives
December 2000 - May 2001
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CORPORATE CORRUPTION
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America's Taxpayers Defrauded in the Hundreds of Millions
Beverly Enterprises (561 homes in 30 states) was
charged and pleaded guilty to defrauding Medicare of $460 million, February
3, 2000. Only $175 million was recovered due to a lack of ability to pay.
Much of the fraud was due to fabricating nursing cost figures, backed by
phony nurses sign in sheets.
Mariner Post-Acute Care (406 homes in 29 states) has been charged federally
with Common Law Fraud, and Unjust Enrichment. Federal demands to recover
$159 million in overpayments, fraud and penalties were reported in October
2000.
Manor Care formerly Health Care and Retirement Corporation, (297 homes in
31 states) was reported, in January 2001, to have settled with the government
in a False Claims Act proceeding. The government alleged that Manor Care's
claims for services rendered were submitted in deliberate ignorance or reckless
disregard of the truth. The government said Manor Care failed to provide:
adequate nursing care to residents with pressure ulcers, among other accusations."
Sun Healthcare Group Inc. (365 homes in 26 states) has been charged with
defrauding Medicare of between $40 and $55 Million dollars. Denver Rocky
Mountain News reported in October 2000, that investigators found Sun improperly
billed the government for luxury condos, a corporate jet and a $74,000 trip
to Italy for staff.
Integrated Health Services, "IHS," (297 homes in 36 states) reportedly owes
Medicare and Medicaid $140 million, for overcharging. It has been investigated
for Medicare fraud, according to its securities filings.
Ila Swan
National Long-Term Care Reform Advocate
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LOST PRODUCTIVITY
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Lost Productivity May Exceed $29 Billion Annually
The cost to U.S. employers in lost productivity
due to employees caring for elderly parents may exceed $29 billion.
More than half of Americans have friends or relatives who have needed long-term
care. Nearly 30% have provided hands-on or personal care assistance.
Elder care is expected to surpass the need for childcare, by 2005.
Memphis Business Journal
"Employers See Growing Need To Offer Workers Elder Care"
May 29, 2002
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