The National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care (also known simply as “Consumer Voice”) is an organization that advocates for public policies that support quality care, and empowers and educates consumers and families.
Recently, the Consumer Voice published a report called The High Cost of Poor Care: The Financial Case for Prevention in American Nursing Homes. The new report summarizes studies showing the extraordinary cost of treating preventable medical problems in persons over 65—$19 billion for falls; $11 billion to treat pressure sores; and $5 billion in hospital charges for dehydration.
It also reports research on the cost-effectiveness of preventive measures. Nursing home residents account for only part of the costs cited above, but rates of avoidable medical conditions and hospitalization are particularly high among the nursing home population. One study quoted in the report concluded 20 to 30 percent of nursing home falls are preventable and that the best fall prevention method is exercise. This is “a relatively simple intervention,” says The High Cost of Poor Care, “with the potential to dramatically lower costs.”
Beyond the information about costs, the report is also eye-opening for the kinds of injuries that are common in nursing homes, often as the result of abuse or neglect.
If you suspect that someone you know has been the victim of mistreatment, please feel free to contact the attorneys of HensonFuerst. Someone is available 24/7 by phone at 1-800-4-LAWMED, or you can contact us through our website at https://www.hensonfuerst.com/.
