EP182: How Nursing Homes Put Profit Before Patients

"Many nursing homes are owned by private equity firms that modify operations to maximize profits." —Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP, FGSA, FAAN   Nursing homes provide essential care for older adults who need more help than family and friends can give. During the COVID-19 pandemic, over 200,000 residents and staff died, exposing serious problems in these facilities.    Recently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) introduced new rules to improve nurse staffing for the 1.2 million older adults who call nursing homes "home" who are both short-stay residents needing rehabilitation and long-stay residents. However, the nursing home industry are opposing these changes.   SUPPORT ADEQUATE NURSE STAFFING IN NURSING HOMES   Just as you would promise never to place a loved one in a poorly managed nursing home, supporting adequate nurse staffing can ensure higher quality care. Many tragedies in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic could have been mitigated with better staffing. Adequate nurse staffing ensures you and your loved one have a safer experience.   UNDERSTAND THE NEW CMS RULES   The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a new rule on nurse staffing standards in nursing homes. The key requirement is that at least one registered nurse be on duty 24/7. This rule aims to improve the quality of care and reduce preventable safety events.   KNOW THE OPPOSITION   The nursing home industry has launched efforts to block these new staffing standards, citing financial constraints. Understanding these oppositions helps you advocate for better care and transparency in nursing home operations.   SUPPORT LEGISLATION FOR TRANSPARENCY   Financial transparency is crucial. Many nursing homes are privately owned and divert funds meant for resident care into their profits. The CMS rule also includes financial transparency requirements to track how funds are spent, ensuring they are used for direct care.   ADVOCATE FOR YOUR LOVED ONES   In 2024, two joint resolutions were introduced in Congress (H.J.Res.139/ S.J.Res.91) and two bills (H.R. 7513/ S. 3410 ) to not only overturn the rule but to prevent any administration from ever developing any staffing standards.    By writing to your representatives and opposing bills like H.R. 7513 and S.3410 and these Joint Resolutions, you can help protect the standards that ensure safe and quality care in nursing homes.    Your advocacy can prevent the nursing home industry from putting profits ahead of care.   By following these steps, you'll ensure a safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable environment for nursing home residents.    RESOURCES   Join AgeWiseU to find and get all of my handouts and related content on Alzheimer's disease and more at MelissaBPhD.com/join    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About MelissaBPhD   Melissa Batchelor, PhD, RN, FNP, FGSA, FAAN. I am a nurse, nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience caring for older adults and their families.    Below are 4 ways to connect with me and support the podcast:   BECOME AN AGEWISEU: Visit my website at https://melissabphd.com/join/ and sign up for free as an Insider or upgrade to being a MVP. Updated weekly, AgeWiseU MVP is a digital hub of over 175 hours of curated content, resources, helpful links and courses designed for caregivers of people living with dementia; adult children caring for aging parents; and anyone wanting to learn more about brain health and healthy aging! MVPs are also invited to join me for a members-only monthly live webinar! BECOME A YOUTUBE MEMBER: Get early access to my podcast episodes and join me for a members-only monthly live webinar! SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, SHARE, AND LEAVE A REVIEW: SUBSCRIBE to this YouTube Channel; LIKE the podcast by giving this episode a thumbs up; SHARE this episode with others; and LEAVE A REVIEW. These things only take a minute of your time, but they really do help increase my rating and ranking; but more importantly, these actions help other people find the podcast.  JOIN THE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY: If you are on Facebook, feel free to join my private community here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thisisgettingold