What causes nursing home abuse?
Nursing homes are understaffed and the supervisory staff is often under qualified. In addition, money needed to run many Nursing home facilities is in short supply. In 1997 a law called the “Boren Amendment” was repealed. This law guaranteed nursing homes that subsist on Medicaid and Medicare support that if the nursing home provided quality care then they would receive “reasonable and adequate” Medicaid reimbursements. Since Boren was repealed, Medicaid reimbursement rates have fallen, not adequately meeting rising health care costs. Nursing homes often use this argument to explain why they are not able to hire and keep qualified staff. Studies find many nursing home’s staff, previously found guilty of abuse, were given jobs at other nursing homes regardless of their abusive history. What is being done to reduce nursing home abuse? Several laws and advisory groups have been introduced into the nursing home system in the last few years. These legal initiatives focus on different areas
