CHECKING OUT A NURSING HOME

Last update: June 2, 2009 - 11:41 AM

CHECKING OUT A NURSING HOME

Several state and federal agencies offer ways to check the quality of nursing homes. The most recent came last week with Medicare rating nursing homes on a five-star system, summarizing information about state inspections, quality measures and staffing. No single measure tells a complete story of a home's quality. Advocates and regulators encourage people to visit several homes before choosing one.

CHECKING OUT HOMES

Minnesota inspects all federally certified nursing homes annually on behalf of the federal government. It also inspects about a dozen state-certified homes such as the five Minnesota veterans homes.

MEDICARE REPORTS

Medicare's "Nursing Home Compare" website shows a home's rating of up to five stars and shows care-quality scores, comparing them with state and federal averages. It also posts staffing information and three years of summary data from state inspection reports (called surveys), listing the types and severity of infractions. Go to www.medicare.gov.

STATE INSPECTION REPORTS

To read a nursing home's most recent inspection report from the Minnesota Department of Health, go to www.tinyurl.com/6fqvrm.

For the department's 2008 facility inspections report to the Legislature, go to www.tinyurl.com/a5qhdp.

STATE COMPLAINT REPORTS

The Health Department investigated 397 complaints about nursing homes last year. It finds the complaints to be substantiated, unsubstantiated or inconclusive. For reports on specific nursing homes, go to www.tinyurl.com/6e2usu.

For the department's 2008 complaint investigations report to the Legislature, go to www.tinyurl.com/7ptcda.

'SPECIAL FOCUS' HOMES

The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services lists about four "special focus" homes in each state that have a history of serious quality issues. These homes are inspected twice a year. For the list, go to www.tinyurl.com/2mbu8c.

NURSING HOME REPORT CARDS

Minnesota rates nursing homes on seven measures, including inspections, care quality indicators and resident satisfaction surveys, with links to the two most recent inspection reports. To read a nursing home's report cards, go to www.tinyurl.com/5kpj8z.

FILING A COMPLAINT

Problems in nursing homes

The state Health Department's Office of Health Facilities Complaints investigates complaints about care in nursing homes, hospitals and other licensed facilities, including reports of neglect, abuse or improper care. Call 651-201-4201 or 1-800-369-7994, or go to www.tinyurl.com/63xk33.

PROBLEMS IN THE COMMUNITY

Each county has a "common entry point," a single phone number (some have separate night and weekend numbers). To find a county's phone number, call the Senior LinkAge Line at 1-800-333-2433, or go to www.tinyurl.com/5rv672.

LONG-TERM CARE OMBUDSMAN

This state office helps negotiate consumer problems with nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Call 651-431-2555 or 1-800-657-3591, or write to Office of Ombudsman for Long-Term Care, P.O. Box 64971, St. Paul, MN 55164-0971.

SUSPICIONS OF FRAUD?

Report cases of suspected Medicaid or Medicare fraud to the attorney general at: Medicaid fraud unit at Medicaid Fraud Division, 1400 Bremer Tower, 445 Minnesota St., St. Paul, MN 55101-2130, or call 651-296-3353 or 1-800-657-8737.

CHOOSING A HOME

Many agencies offer tips on choosing a nursing home. Among them:

Medicare: Nursing Home Checklist to compare homes. Go to www.tinyurl.com/5of676.

National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform: A Consumer Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home. Go to www.tinyurl.com/5yo6l6.

WARREN WOLFE

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