Nursing Home Compare Adds User-Friendly Icons

Are you considering moving yourself or a loved one into a nursing home? Medicare.gov is a popular way to start looking for the right facility. The Nursing Home Compare tool offers information for prospective residents and their families. It includes information about the quality of care at all facilities certified by Medicare and Medicaid.

The Nursing Home Compare tool measures standards, such as how facilities perform on:

• Fire, safety, and health inspections
• Staffing of nurses and healthcare providers
• Caring for residents
• Abuse and neglect prevention
• Maintaining compliance

But how does that really help? Many people find it difficult to decipher the spreadsheets and data. It can also be difficult to make sense of the ratings, especially when comparing one facility to another. After all, every facility is different.

To help users better gauge prospective facilities, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has added icons to the Nursing Home Compare tool. The icons are identifiable as:

The goal of this tool is to help users easily identify facilities with a history of citations or ongoing problems. Rather than having to search for citation history and possible patterns of problems, users will see the icon next to the name of the nursing home. This can help families narrow down their options and feel more confident about their decision.

Need More Information About Nursing Homes?

If you have questions or concerns about nursing home abuse or neglect, or nursing home residents’ legal rights, contact MedMalFirm.com to learn more. Our nursing home abuse lawyer in Houston is dedicated to helping families be informed so they can make the best decisions possible. Whether you nee help finding a suitable nursing home, are concerned about the quality of care where you live, or suspect that a loved one is being abused – MedMalFirm.com can help.