SAINT LOUIS, MO (KMOX) - A new report shows nursing homes in Illinois and Missouri give residents fewer hours of care than any other states in the nation. "Missouri and Illinois are at the very bottom of all the states. 50th and 51st," says Marjorie Moore, Executive Director of advocacy group VOYCE.
The Long-Term Care Community Coalition (CMS) analyzed the latest quarterly report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "Residents in nursing homes are getting less than three hours per day of care. And when you're living in a skilled nursing home, we know that that's not enough." Moore points out a 2001 study by CMS recommended a minimum of four hours of care a day.
She says turnover at facilities is a huge issue, "We're seeing even fewer people wanting to work in nursing homes. We're seeing retention... I've seen numbers of up to a 100 percent turnover a year, so that means everyone in the facility leaves within a year." Moore says pay and the challenging nature of the work are two of the main issues.
The latest analysis of federal data by the Long Term Care Community Coalition shows Alaska with the best rates of care, providing residents an average of more than 5 1/2 hours of care per resident per day.
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