Consumer Reports recently published a report on their study of 16,000 nursing home state inspection reports. The study showed that not-for-profit nursing homes generally provided better care than for-profit nursing homes. “In 1987, Congress passed a landmark law meant to improve nursing home care for the elderly. But our investigation reveals that poor care is still all too common, especially at nursing homes run by for-profit chains, now the dominant force in the industry.”

Consumer Reports even lists several nursing home facilities that they specifically recommend that you avoid placing your loved one in, including homes in CA, CO, GA, IN, MN, MO, NJ, OH.

The statement and chart below come directly from the Consumer Report Website www.consumerreports.org

“We recommend that you avoid placing a family member in one of these facilities. If a relative already lives in one of these homes, you need to be extra vigilant about the care that person receives. Visit often and stay involved in the care planning. And finally, speak up if you notice poor care. Report any concerns to your local long-term-care ombudsman and state regulatory agency.”



Consumer reports rated only 2% of for-profit nursing homes with meeting their standards of quality care, and rated the not-for-profit nursing homes at a not-much-better 7.3%. More registered nurses and more staff are typically found at independently owned facilities.

Funeral directors and those involved in end of life care almost always have a mental list of nursing homes that they would or would not be a resident of. This is a result of their frequent visits to numerous nursing homes and their observations of odors, cleanliness, and organization of the staff. It may sound odd to ask a funeral director for their opinion on a good nursing home but don’t discount him/her as a resource.

To read the complete Consumer Reports article click here:

Consumer Reports - On Nursing Homes