Louisiana is ranked 50th in the country, second only to Texas in nursing home failure (the District of Columbia was given its own ranking). This is based on the recent, first-ever survey of every state’s nursing home facilities. This was performed by the Families for Better Care, a non-profit advocacy group that is pushing for improved care for the elderly. Louisiana was 1 of 11 states to receive an “F” grade.
It was found that fewer than 10 percent of nursing homes in Louisiana had an adequate nursing staff. An appalling amount of nursing home negligence was uncovered, as almost a fifth of all facilities had severe deficiencies. Ninety-seven percent of the state’s nursing homes were deficient in at least one regard. This is worse than any other state in the Southwest Region, a region that is already called “dreadful” by Families for Better Care.
In Louisiana nursing homes, nursing professionals only spent 32 minutes a day with the residents, a horrifically low number. It is the worst in the Southwest Region (which includes Texas) for direct care staffing and registered nurse staffing. Louisiana did merit a “B” for above average health inspections, and a “C” for the number of ombudsman complaints that were actually substantiated. That is a brief bright spot, and it does count for something. The overall report card reveals a woefully inadequate nursing home system in this state, however.
Nursing home negligence and abuse can go undetected for a frighteningly long time. Either it is an emotional abuse that cannot be immediately detected, or the victim is too afraid to speak up. This crime can lead to serious injuries and even tragic deaths. If you have ever discovered abuse to a loved one, then you deserve compensation. With the help of an experienced and compassionate attorney from Morris & Dewett Injury Lawyers, you may be able to achieve justice. Contact a Shreveport personal injury lawyer to learn more about what we can do for you and your family.
