Because of our experience representing the families of nursing home residents, who have been the victims of abuse or neglect, we’re always on the lookout for news on the topic.

Here’s the latest brouhaha: despite their stated commitment to residents’ welfare, groups aligned with the nursing home industry and those responsible for monitoring Medicaid payments can’t seem to agree on how to allocate the state’s tight budget.

In an opinion column in the Chicago Tribune, Bob Gallo, the state director of AARP, places blame for the Medicaid crisis on the nursing home industry. “Their answer to the Medicaid crisis? It’s simple: just lower the standards of care for nursing home residents. This translates into lower quality of care, lower quality of life and higher risk for vulnerable older adults – all of this while the nursing home industry is asking residents, staff and family members to fight for them in the Capitol.”

While Gallo doesn’t deny the ongoing financial problem, he blames the industry “for using the Medicaid crisis as an opportunity to roll back reform efforts passed in 2010 that were meant to raise the standards of care in Illinois nursing homes.”

He points to these numbers, “We’re 46^th in the nation for the number of residents with pressure sores, 43rd ... for the number of residents who have a hospital admission... It’s appalling to think of where Illinois might end up if nursing homes are allowed to lower their standards even further.”

• Families of nursing home residents shouldn’t allow this debate to prevent them from selecting the best residence for their loved ones and from continuing to monitor their care at these facilities. A Reference and Checklist provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health offers a series of suggestions. Among those we believe most essential are:
• Visit the facility more than once and at different times of the day. One visit should be during late morning or midday so you can observe the noon meal. Another visit should be during the afternoon to observe activities being offered. Another time to visit would be during the evening meal.
• Look for the long-term care facility license, the nursing home administrator license, and the latest state inspection survey. Never accept someone’s word that certificates exist. Be sure they are current.
• Every home must have physicians available in an emergency. Good homes allow residents to be treated by their private physicians.

Residents and their relatives should be able to speak with administrators and staff about questions, problems and complaints without fear of reprisal. Staff members should respond quickly to calls for assistance and treat residents with courtesy, respect and affection. A long-term care facility may meet every known standard, but if its staff treats people coldly, the residents suffer.