Caregiverlist® Nursing Home Rating and Cost Index May 2014

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Caregiverlist.com

I had less than two days to choose the right nursing home for my parents' rehabilitation.

Chicago, Illinois (PRWEB) May 12, 2014

Seniors entering nursing homes for a short-term stay or long-term stay all have the same questions: What level of care can I expect? How much will it cost? Am I covered by Medicare or Medicaid? Caregiverlist® has the answers.

The Caregiverlist® Nursing Home Rating and Cost Index uses the top criteria from government health inspection reports to make choosing the right nursing home a little easier. The rating system also provides the daily price for nursing homes, for both single and double rooms, along with ownership information and policies regarding Medicare and Medicaid. The unique search tool enables viewers to select nursing homes in their area and then search by cost, star-rating, and number of beds.

Research shows that few seniors plan ahead for their choice of senior caregiving services. It’s important to understand the costs associated with nursing homes as Medicare only pays for a nursing home stay for up to 20 days and possibly a portion of costs for an additional 80 days, only after a hospitalization. Medicare does not pay for long-term care in a nursing home nor for home care or assisted living.

“Nursing homes have become an extension of a hospital stay for seniors and because of this, every senior should choose a local nursing home before they need one,” says Caregiverlist® CEO Julie Northcutt.

Health inspections of nursing homes must occur at least once in 15 months, with results eventually entered into a state database that becomes translated into the national Medicare health ratings. The Caregiverlist® Nursing Home Ratings and Cost Index updates monthly, using the Medicare ratings as a starting point.

Suzi Brown Boyle, R.N., experienced a sudden need for nursing home care for both of her parents. “My mother fell and broke her hip and while she was hospitalized my father fell and was diagnosed with dementia. I had less than two days to choose the right nursing home for their rehabilitation.” Both quality and costs are factors in selecting the right nursing home, as a senior will be required to privately pay for days not approved by Medicare and for extra amenities.

The Caregiverlist® rating charts the nursing homes based on the national average for this criteria. Nursing homes rated 5-star are the nursing homes with the highest scores and nursing homes rated 1 to 2 stars are nursing homes showing much lower than average results.

May, 2014, Caregiverlist® Rating National Averages for Top Criteria
Weighting     May, 2014, National Averages
    40%:         2 hours, 28 minutes: C.N.A. Hours per Resident per Day
    20%:         15.4%: Long-stay Residents with Increasing Activities of Daily Living Needs
    20%        1.2%: Short-term Residents with Pressure Sores (Bed Sores)
    20%        Overall Medicare Star-Rating Score

Note: Nursing home facilities that are part of hospitals, special psychiatric or rehabilitation centers, Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC), or Veteran’s nursing homes are all labeled accordingly as they are only open to new residents meeting their selective criteria.

May, 2014, Caregiverlist® Nursing Home Rating and Cost Index

Total Number of Nursing Homes: 16,894

Average Cost Varies by State
Average Cost of Private Room for Florida: $258.60
Average Cost of Shared Room for Florida: $211.70
Average Cost of Private Room for Illinois: $198.99
Average Cost of Shared Room for Illinois: $158.04

Nursing Home Star-Rating Results
5-Star: 867
4-Star: 6,389
3-Star: 6,822
2-Star: 1,542
1-Star: 1,274

May, 2014, results show there are more than 16,000 nursing homes in the United States, with the majority being rated either three or four stars by Caregiverlist®. The top five states with the most 5-star rated nursing homes are Texas, California, Illinois, Oklahoma and Ohio. California and Texas are also the states with the most number of nursing homes. The top five states with the most 2-star rated nursing homes are California, Florida, Missouri, Iowa and Kansas. Government and private facilities are included in the ratings, and the type of facility has no relation to the star ratings. In examining costs for the state of Illinois, the ratings have no relationship to the costs.

About Caregiverlist®
Caregiverlist.com® is the premier service connecting seniors and professional caregivers with the most reliable senior care options, highest quality ratings and outstanding careers nationwide. Founded by senior care professionals, Caregiverlist® delivers the efficiencies of the internet to senior care companies by providing online job applications, caregiver training, background checks and industry news. Seniors and caregivers can access senior service information “by state,” view nursing home costs and star-ratings and learn about all senior care options and quality standards. For more information, please visit http://www.caregiverlist.com. Click here to download our widget.

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