Oklahoma Residents Demand Better Conditions in Nursing Homes
In a recent article published in Tulsa World, a member of the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature is calling on all Oklahoma residents to express their concerns about poor conditions in the state’s nursing homes. He specifically points out the recent “F” rating that Oklahoma received in a study conducted by the Families for Better Care. In that report, Oklahoma ranked 48th in the country for overall nursing home care.
Oklahoma received a low rating because of a number of factors including the ratio of qualified staff to the number of nursing home residents. Oklahoma currently has very low minimum staffing ratio requirements. Many Oklahoma facilities stop hiring staff members once they have met the minimum requirements and do not hire additional help to care for residents who need special attention. In the article, the writer calls for an increase in the statewide minimum staffing requirements.
Another reason why Oklahoma received such a poor rating is because of the low number of investigations that look into quality of care issues. According to the study, the Oklahoma Health Department and State Ombudsman program investigates half as many deficiencies as many other states. It is not clear why so few complaints are investigated or if more will be done to ensure that victims of negligence and abuse are given the attention they deserve.
It is important for Oklahoma residents to speak up about their concerns. One in five Oklahomans will be 65 or older in the next 15 years. These issues with our current nursing home system will only get worse if we choose to do nothing. If you believe that your loved one has been mistreated at an Oklahoma nursing home, please take action and report the incident to protect your loved one. A skilled nursing home neglect lawyer can review your case and make sure that your loved one’s rights are preserved.