Our team nursing home abuse attorneys receive complaints by families with elderly loved ones, concerned over the true quality of care they are receiving. Families rarely see actual instances of abuse or neglect, rather noticing their loved one’s physical, mental and emotional health steadily decline.
Residents who are neglected or abused in nursing homes often become malnourished, reclusive, overmedicated – more simply, not themselves. Nursing homes have been operated the same way for decades, to meet government regulations and qualify for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
Increasingly, nursing home chains are being bought out by large corporations so that now more than one-third of all American nursing homes are run by large, for-profit companies.
The nursing home industry is in desperate need of reform. There are a few pioneers looking toward the future, however. Our population is rapidly aging – by 2050, about one-third of American citizens will be 65 years or older and about 4% will be 85 or older.
Big, for-profit nursing home chains offer long-term care at relatively inexpensive rates. They are able to lower rates by implementing various cost-saving features, such as industrial cafeteria, shared bedrooms, and overworking staff.
Among those with an optimistic plan for future care for the elderly and disabled include the Green House Project. The hard truth is that nursing homes hinder resident freedom and happiness; studies show that depression among residents is significant. Perhaps it is the approach altogether that is wrong: tightly controlled lonely institution devoid of personal or loving atmosphere. Profits and economic efficiency are of the utmost importance, rather than the residents or staff quality.
Concepts like the Green House Project aim to remedy this inherent problem. In 2000,
Dr. Bill Thomas decided to build a nursing home from scratch that was affordable, could accept Medicare and Medicaid patients, and, most importantly, appeared more like a home than an institution. The first was built in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Each Green House has 10-12 private bedrooms with attached bathrooms (which helps control infection), surrounding communal living and kitchen areas. There are certified nurse assistants and the primary caregivers, which take care of food preparation, housekeeping, and activities for residents, among other duties. The team also works closely with other Green House staff, so they may manage their own schedules and decision-making processes.
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In the 15 years since the first Green House opened (there are now nearly 175 in 27 states), several studies have shown exceptional results. These studies show that Green House staff is happier with their jobs and more likely to stay in their positions, residents enjoy a higher quality of life, and families are happier with the settings than traditional nursing homes.
The Green House Project places emphasis on radical culture change within long-term care facilities. Residents get a say in the menu plans, for example, and the care is centered on each unique person’s needs. The staff feel empowered because they can organize their own schedules and are coached in their positions, instead of ordered to meet certain goals by executives.
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Perhaps the best part is that Green Houses are affordable – more than half of residents are on Medicaid. Residents are not only happier, but healthier as well. One study found the rate of hospitalization per year was about seven percentage points lower for Green House patients compared to those in a traditional nursing home. Employees like their jobs, are not rushed through their duties, and thus are far less likely to abuse or neglect residents.
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Because of lower rates of hospitalization and other negative medical events, Green House residents on Medicare and Medicaid cost the government $1,300 – $2,300 less than traditional nursing home residents. Of course, the cost of building these homes can be burdensome and most large-scale facilities are unable to undergo such extensive renovations.
Our Illinois elder neglect lawyers know exactly how devastating it can be to watch a loved one suffer in a nursing home. We have 30 years of experience fighting on behalf of injured residents, and accept clients nationwide. Call now for a free, no-obligation legal consultation.
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