------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Dec. 27, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
FOR-PROFIT NURSING CARE IN CRISIS By Bev Hiestand Buffalo, N.Y. Those in Western New York who need the care only a nursing home can provide are facing a profound crisis. The Dec. 11 Buffalo News published results of a yearlong investigation of 93 nursing homes in Western New York. The newspaper based its findings on three years of New York State inspection reports and hundreds of interviews with employees, administrators, residents and their families. The article concluded, "The worst staffing crisis in decades at nursing homes nationwide--including this region's 93 facilities--threatens the quality of care to elderly residents just as the aged become the fastest-growing part of the population." The investigation revealed that despite good care provided by many dedicated workers who express deep concern for residents, "too many of our loved ones are trapped in understaffed facilities where call bells go unanswered and they lie for hours in their own urine and feces. Or where the food is cold and activities are so lacking that many residents spend long hours every day propped in wheelchairs in front of a television set." The News noted that staffing levels for aides at nearly 98 percent of the homes fall below the standard recently set by a federal study as "optimum." The constant pressure for workers to rush due to understaffing can lead to mistakes. Nursing home residents are old and frail, making staffing shortages more dangerous. Patients are being pushed out of acute-care hospitals at an ever-faster pace. As a result they arrive at nursing homes with surgical wounds, intravenous lines and other conditions that require continual attention. In all nursing homes, nurses' aides provide the greatest share of care. In some homes, each aide must attend to 30 or more patients on each shift. That means feeding, washing and assisting patients to the bathroom. "Some nights, we'd have four aides trying to take care of more than 300 people," said Russell Reynolds, a former nursing aide at a for-profit nursing home in suburban East Aurora. "You might have to spend a half-hour helping somebody get to the bathroom. In that time, two other residents might fall down and need help." (Buffalo News, Dec 10) Most nurses' aides report that the workload is unbelievable and demoralizing, with no time to spend even five minutes talking to a lonely resident. The workforce of aides in this region is made up predominantly of women--many single with children. They are largely African American. They are often forced to work double shifts. And the job is difficult, stressful and emotional. The Dec. 11 News noted that "Fewer people are willing to do this work for the low pay, starting around $8.50 an hour with little chance of advancement to better-paying, less stressful jobs." The crisis of understaffing is dangerous for workers, too. Back injuries are common from lifting residents. Aides are exposed to infections. Federal labor statistics reveal that nursing home workers rank fourth in the country in frequency of injuries and illness--a rate higher than firefighters. Aides stress the lack of adequate education about how to care for confused and aggressive residents. The News pointed out "a manicurist studies longer to get a license to do nails-250 hours-compared to the 100 hours of training it takes to be an aide." Is it any wonder that the turnover rate in some of these homes is 100 percent? (Buffalo News, Dec. 11) WHO PROFITS? WHO PAYS? The Dec. 12 Buffalo News emphasized, "If solutions aren't found, some experts believe the nation is headed for a two- tier system based entirely on money. Wealthy people would live in relatively comfortable facilities with good food and decent medical care. Poor and middle-class people would essentially be warehoused in hospital-type facilities that would be even more understaffed than they are today." Most people can't afford private pay rates that average $64,000 to $70,000 a year, far more expensive than a Harvard University education. Medicaid, the state-federal health program for the poor, doesn't cover the cost of basic services and only pays after potential residents exhaust their savings. Medicare cuts have worsened the situation, especially for not-for-profit homes. The workers certainly aren't getting wealthy from the high cost of care. The for-profit industry has funneled millions of dollars into anti-union campaigns to keep workers' wages and benefits low. As a result many nursing-home employees are not organized into unions. And that makes it harder to struggle against poor working conditions. So who is getting rich? The owners of for-profit nursing homes. Financial data for 550 nursing homes in New York State showed profits and surpluses totaling $354 million in 1999. Much of the profit comes from taxpayers in the form of Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. The Dec. 10 News reported that from 1997 to 1999, the three most profitable nursing homes in the region raked in nearly $17.6 million in profits. But not unexpectedly, these homes ranked near the bottom when evaluated for quality of care. Neil M. Chur Sr. runs nine local nursing homes that are very lucrative. Three of his facilities are rated among the region's 15 worst. Many have been cited for incidents of poor care including understaffing, poor nutrition, patient care and medication practices, and for filing false documentation on patient care. Inspectors found maggots in a facial wound of a cancer patient at one of his facilities. At another a resident choked to death on her breakfast while she was left eating alone. The News reports that Chur has made a fortune, turning him into a polo-playing multimillionaire with estates in East Aurora, N.Y., and Naples, Fla. Chur's 209-acre East Aurora estate includes a mansion, a guest house, a polo field, a small golf course and climate-controlled stables for his Arabian show horses. He travels between his properties on his company's Learjet. What will it take to provide quality health care? Servile and cowardly politicians in both parties revealed their priorities when they voted for a War Powers Act that gave Bush and the generals carte blanche spending powers for war against the Afghan people. That unlimited spending for warfare is draining the coffers of much-needed funds for health care, education and other necessities. Together, unions and communities can turn the priorities of funding back to where they belong: meeting peoples' needs. But it will take a grassroots struggle to win these resources for better care for the sick and elderly, and for better wages, benefits and working conditions for healthcare workers. Hiestand is a nurse and healthcare union activist in Buffalo. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For subscription info send message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.workers.org) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
