Chuck Grassley: “I chair the Committee on Aging. We have been holding some hearings about the nursing home industry over the last several…”

“I chair the Committee on Aging. We have been holding some hearings about the nursing home industry over the last several months. I would like to make a comment. First of all, I would like to speak about credibility. It is similar to an old maple tree. It takes years to develop, but a big storm can wipe it out just like that. I have a story that makes the point. The nursing home industry challenged the credibility of nursing home inspectors. The nursing home industry, after this challenge, lost. When I refer to the nursing home industry, I mean the American Health Care Association. This group represents the for-profit nursing homes. It has thousands of members across the country. Nursing home inspectors operate in every State. They inspect every nursing home that accepts Federal money. The inspectors gauge whether nursing homes follow the Federal laws that were passed to protect nursing home residents. They evaluate everything from the most severe problems to the most minor problems. The most severe problems include malnutrition, dehydration, bedsores, inadequate medical treatment-- matters that can be life-threatening. The most minor problems might include things such as comfortable lighting and access to stationery. At my request, the General Accounting Office has issued a series of reports documenting severe problems in too many nursing homes, thus pointing up the shortcomings of the inspection.”