Immediate Jeopardy in Nursing Homes: Challenges Are Growing, But Solutions Exist
Recent data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services indicates a notable increase in “Immediate Jeopardy” citations in Rhode Island nursing homes. These citations, which identify situations where noncompliance poses a significant risk of harm, have risen from 11 in 2022 to 29 as of October 2024. This trend points to underlying challenges in staffing and resources that affect the quality of care provided to residents. You can find out more on the ProPublica Nursing Home Inspection data for RI.
Some of the incidents reported highlight areas of concern. Cases have included residents leaving facilities unnoticed, unlicensed staff performing specialized medical procedures, medication errors resulting in hospitalizations, and issues related to resident safety within the facilities. These examples underscore the complexity of ensuring high-quality care in a system strained by workforce shortages and funding limitations.
The Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island is advocating for comprehensive changes to address these challenges. Suggested measures include improving staffing levels, offering specialized training in dementia care, providing living wages for direct care staff, and establishing a workforce standards advisory board. These efforts aim to strengthen the foundation of care for Rhode Island’s older population, particularly as the need for nursing home services continues to grow. To learn more about the challenges and proposed solutions, read the full article on GoLocalProv HERE.
For further reading
ProPublica Nursing Home Inspection data for RI
Immediate Jeopardy in Nursing Homes is Rising; We Have Tools to Use Now – Costa