Keywords

enforcement, long-term care, nursing homes, reimbursement, staffing

 

Authors

  1. HARRINGTON, CHARLENE PHD, RN

Abstract

This article proposes 8 ways that nursing home quality can be improved along with the research rationale for these changes. These changes address increasing nursing home staffing levels, developing an effective enforcement system for current federal and state regulations, implementing reimbursement reform, establishing effective financial regulation and accountability measures, and improving nursing home information systems for consumers. Longer term goals include supporting the development of community ownership and control of nursing homes, expanding public funding of home-and-community-based services, and establishing public financing of long-term-care.