"Caring facilities" directors are traditionally given bonuses based on keeping costs down. The most common correlation with elder abuse in care facilities is ‘short staffing’. That's the major conflict.
When employees call in ‘sick’ the director has a choice of calling in ‘pool help’ at three times the normal hourly rate - OR doubling up on workers present. The 'saving money' choice is incentivized - abuse happens. Good people are uncomfortable in that environment and leave. People who don't care are left. The director's ‘rewarded’ with a bonus for keeping costs down.
The solution is random variable inspection replacing annual inspection - AND inspections tied to financial incentives. Medicare and Medicaid should PAY Less per patient when 6 random items checked are deficient.
The advantage is the Care facility MAKES MORE PROFIT if they make ethical choices. So the facility polices themselves and abuse drops, turnover drops and dependent people receive better care.
Medicare and Medicaid should PAY Less per patient when 6 random items checked are deficient.
How about M&M (and private LTC) don’t pay for conditions that origninate inside the facility. A person enters with illness A and injury B. But while there breaks a leg and acquires Sepsis. Why should the provider be paid for treating the broken leg and the Sepsis?