Families Urged to Be Cautious as 84% of Oregon Nursing Homes Fall Short of Standards
If you are looking to relocate either yourself or your elderly parents into a care facility, do your due diligence by thoroughly researching all options, as Oregon ranks in a dubious 7th position among the top 10 states with deficiencies in levels of service.
According to a study by personal injury attorneys, Phillips Law Firm, only two percent of nursing homes in Oregon providing care for the elderly have no deficiencies, while 84% of the nursing facilities recorded deficiencies in the quality of care.
Oregon Does Have the Lowest Average Number of Deficiencies
Oregon’s’ average rate of deficiencies is 56.1%, but the state does have the lowest average number of deficiencies per certified nursing facility among the top ten states, with 10.8 per facility.
It also recorded 2% of nursing facilities with no deficiencies. However, the majority (84%) of the nursing facilities in Oregon recorded a deficiency in quality of care.
The 10 Factors Analyzed by the Study
The ten factors analyzed, in no particular order, were:
- Quality of care
- Infection control
- Food and nutrition services
- Freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- Nursing services
- Pharmacy services
- Resident rights
- A comprehensive resident-centered care plan
- Quality of life
- Resident assessments
Neighboring California and Washington Offer the Worst Care for the Elderly in the U.S.
The study reveals that neighboring California has the worst care conditions for the elderly above any other state, with the highest number of poorly rated nursing homes at an average of 63.6%.
Ranked at #One, there is not one nursing home in California rated deficiency-free, while 26% revealed serious deficiencies.
California has more nursing facilities for the elderly than any other state in the top 10. A shocking 85% of nursing homes had a deficiency in the quality of care, and 83% had deficiencies in food and nutrition, as well as pharmacy services.
Another of Oregon’s neighbors, Washington, is a close second. The state has the most problematic nursing homes, with an average deficiency rate of 63.1%.
Of the 198 nursing homes in the state, 98% had at least some recorded deficiency. The state also recorded an average of 15.3 deficiencies per nursing facility.
The majority (89%) of the nursing homes in Washington had deficiencies in quality of care, and 76% had deficiencies in resident rights.
Care of the Elderly is Generally Sub-Standard in Western States
According to a spokesman for Phillips Law Firm, the study shows that care of the elderly is sub-standard in most Western states of the U.S.
“This study serves as an alarming reminder that you can never be too cautious when it comes to care homes and trusting someone to look after a loved one.”
The other states in the top 10 are New Mexico (3), West Virginia (4), Maryland (5), Nevada (6), Hawaii (8), Missouri (9), and Michigan (10).