News

His last days were ones of misery. Robert Gunkel, once an intimidating figure with a grip of steel, was all but bed-bound in the New Jersey nursing home where he spent the final weeks of his life. Weakened after a risky operation to remove a cyst pressing on the right side of his brain, the 87-year-old Korean War veteran could no longer stand. Those caring for him were supposed to turn...

A Democratic state senator is urging New Jersey to prevent new owners from taking over the Wanaque nursing home where 11 children died last fall.   Former Gov. Richard Codey, a Montclair Democrat, expressed his “deep concerns” about the sale in a letter to the state health commissioner, asking for a “full investigation” before the license of the...

Nursing home staffing levels are often lower than what facilities report, which could compromise care quality, new research shows. Self-reported direct staffing time per resident was higher than the CMS' payroll-based metrics 70% of the time, according to a new study published in Health Affairs. Staffing levels were significantly lower during the weekends, particularly for registered...

It is, or at least should be, among the highest priorities we as a society can have. But sadly, when it comes to taking care of our most elderly citizens, we continue to fall woefully short of the mark. In a report released last week, Families for Better Care, a national senior citizens advocacy group, gave Pennsylvania nursing homes a failing grade, ranking the state an unacceptable...

The national advocacy group Families for Better Care gave Pennsylvania's nursing homes an F, but not everyone agrees with the state's grade. Families for Better Care says 95% of Pennsylvania's nursing homes were cited for deficiencies. The state's facilities were ranked 46th nationally, sinking 14 spots since the last report in 2014. The nonprofit says residents struggle to get...