The non-profit Missouri Alliance's long-term care reform has released a report on the state's nursing homes. The report alleges repeated citations that understaffing, inadequate oversight and government funding were diverted to increase profits over care and did not improve at 68 Missouri nursing homes.
During a rally inside the Missouri State Capitol, nursing home advocates were there to raise awareness about what they call the “nursing home crisis.”
Michelle Granick, who co-founded the organization, said Missouri nursing homes handle the shortages and high sales that affect daily care, including helping residents use toilets.
“Someone just said, 'Oh, well, what's the difference between 10 and 20 minutes that you can get into pants?” That's a really big result, and it has a huge health impact and just self-esteem issues,” Granick said at a rally last Wednesday.
Her group is pushing for legislative measures to address issues, including bills that will increase surveillance, improve management and establish minimum staffing requirements.
Sen. Stephen Webber of D-Columbia spoke at the rally. He called what caused a crisis a problem that all Missouri should be concerned about.
“If you're trying to put your loved one into a medical facility, I think it's really, really important to know who owns a facility that entrusts the lives of some of the most important people in your life, and who is profiting and who is affecting the very vulnerable members of your family,” Weber said.
Katherine Stewart, president of SEIU Healthcare Union, who works at the Highland Rehabilitation Center in Kansas City, explained what she is dealing with personally.
“There are days when we only work on the floor,” she said. “No one can do anything specific with just two people, even in nursing facilities or hospitals.”
However, at the midpoint of the legislative meeting, several bills, including those from Senator Weber, have yet to be heard by a committee of lawmakers to study the details first.
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