In a recent ranking of all 50 U.S. states, New Jersey fell in the bottom 10 states in terms of the percentage of nursing home patients who develop bedsores or are hospitalized for an injury or illness related to their nursing home care. If New Jersey had the level of care of the highest-ranking state, the report indicates, approximately 6,000 hospitalizations that are the result of nursing home neglect or abuse could be avoided every year.
The report comes at an important time for state health care officials. In the coming months, New Jersey will completely overhaul its Medicaid program, which funds long-term care and other health care for state residents who cannot afford it. Last year, the state spent more than $3 billion on long-term care for the elderly and the disabled. With the Medicaid overhaul, the hope is to allow senior residents to remain out of nursing homes and under the service of home-based medical care for a longer period of time.
According to the report, this could be a good move not only financially, but physically as well. In addition to the bottom-10 ranking, New Jersey ranked 22nd in terms of quality of care, choice of facility, and affordability of nursing homes. In addition, the state ranked very low in available support for family members who take care of loved ones at home, with a minimal percentage of caregivers reporting that they always or usually get the support they need from the state.
If you believe that a loved one has suffered injuries as a result of nursing home neglect or abuse, please contact Breslin & Breslin for a free consultation.
Source: The Record, “New Jersey ranks poorly on long-term nursing care,” Lindy Washburn, Sept. 17, 2011
