Hawaii in Bottom 10 for Elderly Care Quality
- California is home to the worst elderly care in the country, with the highest number of poorly rated nursing homes
- The top five worst states for elderly care are California, Washington, New Mexico, West Virginia and Maryland
- Factors considered in the study included pharmacy services, rates of abuse and neglect towards the elderly and the quality of nursing services
A new study has revealed the best and worst states for elderly care, with California having the worst care conditions for the elderly above any other state.
The findings by personal injury attorneys, Phillips Law Firm assessed ten major factors from KFF data, within nursing homes across the US to establish where nursing homes and elderly care were at their worst.
The ten factors that were analyzed were:
- Quality of care
- Resident rights
- Pharmacy services
- Food and nutrition services
- A comprehensive resident-centred care plan
- Infection control
- Freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
- Quality of life
- Resident assessments
- Nursing services
The findings were then put into an index where deficiencies of care were then put into a percentage, with the higher the percentage, the more lapses in care for elderly people in nursing homes was. This way, the team were able to establish where in the US, nursing homes are at their worst.
Speaking on why the study and its findings are so important, a spokesperson from Phillips Law Firm said the following: “For any of us with elderly loved ones, or whether you are considering moving to a retirement or care facility yourself, there can naturally be an air of trepidation when it comes to choosing the right place. Top quality care, attention and facilities are non-negotiable, we all want that peace of mind that our loved ones will be taken care of and looked after to the highest standard possible, but there are times where this is unfortunately not the case.
This research highlights where extra research and care simply must be taken before selecting a nursing home. If you’re researching for yourself and you live in one of the states on this list then you must pay extra attention as there are just simply too many incidences of poor quality care, and the same goes if you’re researching on behalf of a loved one.
Frankly, it seems that states on the western side of the country are of more serious concern than in the eastern side. 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 10 worst states for elderly care based on deficiencies in nursing homes
- California
California has the worst-rated nursing homes, with an average rate of deficiencies of 63.6%. 0% of the nursing facilities in the state recorded no deficiencies, while more than one-quarter (26%) had serious deficiencies. In California, which has more nursing facilities than any other state in the top ten, a shocking 85% of the nursing homes had a deficiency in the quality of care, and 83% had a deficiency in pharmacy services, and food and nutrition services.
- Washington
Coming in a close second with the most problematic nursing homes is Washington, with an average rate of deficiencies 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.
- New Mexico
In third place is New Mexico, with an average rate of deficiencies of 62.5%. In this state, 100% of the nursing facilities had some recorded deficiencies, and 41% had serious deficiencies. 85% of nursing facilities in New Mexico had deficiencies in comprehensive resident-centered care plans.
- West Virginia
Fourth is West Virginia, with an average rate of deficiencies of 57.5%. Of the 123 nursing facilities in the state, the average number of deficiencies per facility is 12.4. The data also showed that 89% of facilities had deficiencies in quality of care.
- Maryland
Taking fifth is Maryland, with an average rate of deficiencies of 57.3%. The state has the joint-highest average number of deficiencies per certified nursing facility (15.4) in the top ten, joint with New Mexico. In Maryland, more than three-quarters (78%) of the nursing facilities had a deficiency in resident rights and 76% had a deficiency in the quality of care.
- Nevada
In sixth is Nevada, with an average rate of deficiencies of 57.2%. In this state, 18% of nursing facilities have serious deficiencies. 84% of nursing facilities had a deficiency in quality of care, and 81% had a deficiency in pharmacy services.
- Oregon
In seventh is Oregon, with an average rate of deficiencies of 56.1%. Oregon had 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.
- Hawaii
Hawaii is eighth on this list, with an average rate of deficiencies of 55.9%. Hawaii has the lowest number of nursing facilities of the top ten states (43), and the average number of deficiencies per facility is 11.7. In this state, 70% of nursing facilities had a deficiency in quality of care.
- Missouri
In ninth is Missouri, with an average rate of deficiencies of 55.2%. Almost a quarter (24%) of nursing homes in this state have serious deficiencies and the average number of deficiencies per nursing facility is 11.8. 74% of facilities in this state have a deficiency in quality of care and 68% have a deficiency in resident rights.
- Michigan
Michigan is tenth. The state has an average rate of deficiencies of 55.1%. The percentage of nursing facilities with serious deficiencies in this state is 48% – the highest percentage among the top ten states. 88% of nursing facilities in Michigan had a deficiency in quality of care, and 64% had a deficiency in resident rights.
State Average Number of Deficiencies per Certified Nursing Facility Percentage of Nursing Facilities with Serious Deficiencies Percentage of Nursing Facilities with Any Deficiencies Percentage of Nursing Facilities with No Deficiencies Weighted Average Rate of Deficiencies (Higher = more Deficiencies) California 16 26% 99% 0% 63.6% Washington 15.3 41% 98% 2% 63.1% New Mexico 15.4 41% 100% 0% 62.5% West Virginia 12.4 7% 99% 0% 57.5% Maryland 15.4 20% 97% 3% 57.3% Nevada 13.2 18% 97% 0% 57.2% Oregon 10.8 40% 98% 2% 56.1% Hawaii 11.7 42% 98% 0% 55.9% Missouri 11.8 24% 97% 2% 55.2% Michigan 12 48% 97% 2% 55.1%
Results for all 50 states
Rank State Deficiency Rate 1 California 62.2% 2 Washington 62.0% 3 New Mexico 61.6% 4 Nevada 57.0% 5 Maryland 56.8% 6 West Virginia 55.4% 7 Oregon 53.6% 8 Delaware 52.7% 8 Missouri 52.7% 10 Michigan 52.6% 11 Massachusetts 52.4% 11 Hawaii 52.4% 13 Virginia 49.1% 14 Illinois 48.2% 15 Alaska 46.5% 16 Arkansas 45.8% 17 Maine 45.7% 18 Montana 45.6% 19 Ohio 45.0% 20 Connecticut 44.1% 21 Kansas 43.1% 21 Idaho 43.1% 23 Utah 42.4% 24 Indiana 42.3% 25 Rhode Island 41.8% 26 Colorado 40.4% 27 Oklahoma 40.3% 27 Pennsylvania 40.3% 27 Wyoming 40.3% 30 Arizona 40.0% 31 Nebraska 39.6% 32 Iowa 39.3% 33 Texas 38.1% 34 Louisiana 38.0% 35 North Carolina 37.7% 36 Minnesota 36.7% 37 New Jersey 36.4% 38 Wisconsin 35.6% 39 Florida 35.0% 40 North Dakota 34.8% 41 New York 33.6% 42 Tennessee 33.2% 43 Vermont 32.7% 44 New Hampshire 32.0% 45 Kentucky 29.8% 45 Georgia 29.8% 47 South Carolina 29.1% 48 Mississippi 28.5% 49 Alabama 21.6% 50 South Dakota 20.7%
WE ARE NOT #1!
