By James C. Sherlock
This is Part 2 of this series. Part 1 is here.
I will offer here a deeper sense of Virginia’s bad nursing homes. And of the historic lack of adequate regulation by the state.
Start with the fact that even the worst of them are still open.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) conduct and update at least quarterly a system of nursing home (and other facilities) assessments that is worthy of your trust. I am cautious with all things government, but it has earned mine.
Nationally, 20% of nursing homes are rated one star overall by CMS. In Virginia, 34% of nursing homes have that rating.
Don’t be mollified by the official designation of such facilities as “well below average.” Many are places persons as vulnerable as nursing home residents should not be permitted to reside.
We are disgraced by having let that happen. Virginians, through our state government, need to assure it does not continue.