Nursing Home Reform Act 1987
Nursing home abuse has been around for decades. In 1987 the Nursing Home Reform Act made the public aware of the rights residents have in nursing home care in the United States. The purpose of this federal act is to remind and establish the rights and quality of care individuals receive while in short or long-term nursing home care. Almost 10 years ago, violations were at an all-time high as almost 50 percent of nursing homes were legally cited for violations of maintenance of the facility and the care of residing patients. 27 percent of those violations were noted as direct, dangerous situations that jeopardize the care of the resident's life. The Federal act protects the rights of patients and requires that upon entering the establishment, each resident should receive a plan for the medical care they will receive while under the care of a nursing home care provider. An Arizona Nursing home lawyer can help you and your family familiarize themselves with the Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 if you suspect that a nursing home is not providing a high level of care. Your loved one should not have to suffer if a nursing home refuses or does not follow the act.
What exactly does the Federal Act do?
The cost of a single care of a person in a nursing home can cost as much as $41,000 a year. With the high cost of nursing home care, a resident should receive the upmost care. The purpose of the Nursing Home Reform act of 1987 is to enforce the basic rights of a person residing in a nursing home.
- Establishes a medical plan be set for each patient
- State monitoring
- Service and training for each staff member
- Enforces only state funds go to facilities that meet compliances
- Emphasizes proper care mentally, physically, psychosocially.
Some Patients Rights:
The Right to:
- Privacy
- Dignity
- Upmost Physical, Mental, and Psychosocial Care
- Change their health care plan
- Not be neglected or abused
- Not be restrained
- Express their complaints against the facility
- Communicate
The link to the Nursing Home Initiative of 1998
The initiative provides further steps to enforce the care and rights the 1987 act imposed for nursing home care. This act helps enforce sanctions for Nursing Homes that do not follow compliances, allows states to impose civil monetary penalties, requires more frequent inspections of facilities, immediately terminates federal funding if the facility is not following protocol, and enforces detailed reviews of surveys conducted among residents and family members about the level of care.
Contact an Arizona Nursing Home Lawyer
Just because there are federal acts and initiatives imposed on Arizona nursing homes, it does not mean each provider is giving a high level of care for elderly residents. An Arizona Attorney can understand the liabilities Nursing Home's face due to negligence and abuse. For more information or if you would like to speak to an Arizona lawyer, visit www.nursinghomeadvocates.com
