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A recent article published by the Orlando Sentinel describes an unfortunate event for a consumer of long term care...

Nursing home fined after maggots found in patient's cast
The Associated Press 7:22 AM EDT, June 4, 2009
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - State regulators have fined a West Palm Beach nursing home $16,000 after a patient was found injured on the floor with maggots crawling out of his leg cast. The state issued the fine in March against Azalea Court, but the nursing home has appealed the penalty. An August 2008 report states that the 120-bed facility failed to provide the necessary care and services to a resident with the cast on his lower leg, which led to an infestation of maggots. The report says the patient's leg was supposed to be treated every three days, but the nursing home could only provide documentation that it cared for the wound about once a week. A statement from Azalea Court says the nursing home is cooperating fully with regulatory agencies. (Press, 2009)
Press, T. A. (2009, June 4). Nursing Home Fined… Orlando Sentinel.

Unfortunately, articles like these are not a distant reality for some long term care facilities. When I came upon this article it made me sick. I was in complete disbelief that a patient wound would be left untreated for that length of period. After reading this article as well as the assigned chapters of our text, I can definitely agree that some level of improvement needs to take place in terms of patient care. In the first chapter of our text one of the weaknesses outlined of LTC facilities is poor public image. In this section the author goes on about how important it is to choose a well-known facility with a good reputation.
After reading this article it's easy to understand how some facilities earn such a poor reputation. Not only will Azalea Court suffer from its now negative reputation, but state regulators that may have been contributing funds to this facility may reduce or even cut off those funds. This would be another unfortunate event that would not only harm the facility, but also the residents within the facility. When budget cuts occur, lay-offs, and the cancellation of certain amenities are not far behind. Although some facilities (like the above mentioned) are of poor quality, fortunately other facilities are maintaining their image as well as their standard of care.
At the age of 86 my great grandma entered a nursing home and continued to reside there for 6 years, until she died at the age of 92. While searching for a nursing home, my grandparents took much time and deliberation. They visited dozens of homes in and out of town. They were reluctant to visit homes that were open to the pubic "by appointment only". Finally, after searching for over a year, they found the Sunbelt Living Center located in Orlando, FL. They chose this facility based on many factors. I visited my granny there frequently. She seemed to be happy overall and I was very pleased with the numerous activities that were made available to her, not to mention, the food. I ate several meals with her while she resided there. The food was of good quality. She also had a bird feeder outside of her private room. She enjoyed watching the birds come and sit by her window. Overall, her experience was a positive one.
With that being said, forming an opinion about nursing homes can be done based on both their strengths and weaknesses. My grandma was fortunate. She had the support of her family (informal caregivers) visiting each week; she also reaped the benefits of a system that cared deeply about satisfying their residents.
However, not every resident is as lucky, as seen above with the ill-fated resident at Azalea Court. Abuse in nursing homes and all facilities must stop. The elderly population is an extremely vulnerable one, not only to illness and disease, but also to physical and emotional abuse. Each person, no matter what their age deserves to be treated like a human being. Sadly, sometimes the shortcomings of these facilities result in extreme abuse and even death. I hope that with an ever-aging population we can all realize the reality of growing old, and learn to be empathetic to the needs of those that are already there.