A national survey conducted online from July 5 to July 24, 2023 by West Health and Gallup, Inc. found that 36% of the respondents gave nursing homes in the United States a “D” (poor) rating for quality of care; 6% gave them an “F” (fail); 33% grade nursing homes as satisfactory (C”); 1% gave an excellent rating (“A”); and 8% responded with a good rating (“B”). The average rating for quality of care in American nursing homes was D+.
Seventy percent of the respondents reported that they would be “very” or “somewhat uncomfortable” being admitted to a nursing home if they could no longer care for themselves, while 61% reported that they feel the same way about the prospect of admitting a relative or family member into a nursing home.
The survey asked adults who say they would be uncomfortable living in a nursing home to indicate why, by choosing up to three reasons from a list of eight possible concerns. The results were as follows:
- Quality of care is the top reason (70%) for discomfort with living in a nursing home.
- Cost (49%) and concerns about the potentially negative impact an admission could have on the respondents’ mental and emotional health (45%) were also top reasons reported for their discomfort with living in a nursing home.
- Fear of losing independence was mentioned by 34%, and 28% said that they do not want to die in a nursing home.
- 27% reported concerns about their physical safety in a nursing home.
The survey found that more women than men cite quality and personal safety, while men are more likely to fear losing their independence or dying in a nursing home.
26% of respondents think nursing homes are safe places, while 41% think they are not. About a third say they don’t know.
42% of respondents stated that nursing homes are not very or not at all effective in keeping residents safe from avoidable harms such as infections, pressure wounds, and abuse and neglect; 44% consider nursing homes at least somewhat effective.
The summary regarding the survey results concludes:
“Nursing homes serve a vital role in the U.S., but Americans’ confidence in their ability to keep residents safe is low, as are opinions about the quality of care they provide. As such, Americans are largely uncomfortable with the thought of ever needing one in their later years or using one for family.
The new poll makes it clear that nursing homes have much work to do to instill more public confidence in their facilities. While it’s natural that people entering nursing homes would have reservations about the lifestyle changes inherent in moving into such a care facility, they should not have to worry about their safety or the quality of care they will receive.
Policy proposals to increase minimum staff requirements and assure adequate resources for nursing homes may help improve quality and restore confidence, but these may not be enough. Meanwhile, policymakers could also invest more resources in home- and community-based options to support the growing U.S. senior citizen population.”
If you or a loved one may have been injured (or worse) as a result of malpractice in a nursing home in the United States due to nursing home staff shortage, nursing home understaffing, nursing home pressure ulcer (nursing home bedsore) negligence, a nursing home infection, nursing home fall, nursing home aspiration, nursing home neglect, nursing home negligence, nursing home abuse, or the nursing home failing to properly care for a vulnerable adult, you should promptly find a nursing home malpractice lawyer who may investigate your nursing home malpractice claim for you and represent you or your loved one in a nursing home malpractice case, if appropriate.
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