| How do I go about choosing a
nursing home?
First, read "A Consumer Guide to
Choosing a Nursing Home" created by the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home
Reform (NCCNHR). NCCNHR is a
non-profit organization with a mission to protect the rights, safety and dignity of
residents of long-term care around the country.
Then, consider buying an essential book
entitled "Nursing Homes: Getting Good Care There (2nd Ed.)" by Sarah
Greene Burger, Virginia Fraser, Sara Hunt, and Barbara Frank. Information on how to
purchase this book can be found within NCCNHR's publications page.
Additionally, one can download a 59 page publication,
"Guide to Choosing a Nursing Home" created by CMS (Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services).
Where can I find
information about a particular nursing home?
Visit Nursing Home Compare,
the federal government's web site that shows important quality indicators about every
nursing home in the nation that accepts Medicaid or Medicare payments. Please
understand that this web site is not a comprehensive guide to nursing homes nor does the
site rate these institutions. Also, the information on the web site about staffing levels is not accurate, as confirmed by the federal
government. While CMS has attempted to correct this problem, it is still not recommended
that one rely on this staffing information. Consumer Reports explains why Nursing Home Compare falls short.
Also, visit the Member of the Family web site which
provides information about Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing homes, including reports
based on recent government surveys. One will also find a National Watch List
of homes cited for violations or that have had substantiated complaints made against them.
Finally, visit the Nursing Home pages of the
Consumer
Reports web site. There you will find another Watch List of nursing
homes and an explanation of how it was compiled.
My loved-one is in a
nursing home in Connecticut, who do I call if I have need help dealing with the nursing
home or have a complaint?
Every nursing home resident in the State of Connecticut
has advocates working on his or her behalf in the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman . Visit this web site for
current telephone numbers for the ombudsman in your region. For more information
about Ombudsman, visit the National Long Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center. Also, many
times legal assistance can be provided by attorneys from Connecticut’s legal services
organizations.
Where can I
find more information about nursing home advocacy issues in general?
Visit the National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform (NCCNHR) web site
for information on the latest issues affecting nursing home residents.
NCCNHR is the only
national organization that is solely dedicated to improving the quality of care and
quality of life for nursing home residents.
NCCNHR is a non-profit organization, so please consider becoming a member or making a donation in memory
or in honor of a nursing home resident loved-one.
Also, the National Senior Citizens Law Center
(NSCLC) web site contains several articles about nursing home residents' rights and
other long-term care issues.
Are there any
advocacy groups in Connecticut working to improve and protect nursing home residents'
rights?
On a state level, Connecticut Citizens' Coalition for
Nursing Home Reform (CCCNHR) takes public positions and lobbies the government on
legislative and regulatory issues affecting nursing home residents. CCCNHR always
welcomes calls or letters from persons interested in nursing home resident advocacy work.
Connecticut Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home
Reform (CCCNHR )
c/o Joelen Gates
Connecticut Legal Services, Inc.
872 Main St.
Willimantic, CT 06226
phone: 860-456-1761
To find local contact information about other citizen
advocacy groups in Connecticut or anywhere else in the United States, visit www.nhadvocates.org.
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