A new report done by AARP describes conditions in many Texas nursing homes as 'intolerable,' and claims that one in four has been cited for serious health and safety violations, News Radio 1200 WOAI's Morgan Montalvo reports.
And Amanda Frederickson of AARP says the biggest problem is, under current state law, many of the worst nursing homes get a free pass.
"What we see is that even though facilities have repeat violations at the most serious levels, they are never actually being fined by the state," she said.
She says the data used for the damning report isn't AARP's opinion, it comes from the state's own inspection reports.
And she says the problems are not confined to 'lower end' facilities which generally house low income patients. She says high end facilities, where wealthy people pay with their own funding, are equally guilty.
"The reality is, we see these problems, whether we're talking about Medicare, Medicaid, or private pay."AARP says the current session of the Legislature should get involved, she says a few simple reforms and tightening up of standards could make life a lot easier for Texas seniors.
"One of the issues that we have taken a very close look at it nursing facilities giving patients anti-psychotic medications when the patients have no need for these medications," she said. "These are very strong medications."
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