A: Shortcomings at nursing homes have become far too common, yet thousands of families have little choice. Critics have complained that government information posted on the Medicare web site, http://www.Medicare.gov, (Nursing Home Compare) is inaccurate and incomplete. In addition, a survey conducted by Consumers Union, publishers of Consumer Reports, found that few people take advantage of information that is available to guide their selection. Here are some tips found in Consumer Reports Complete Guide to Health Services For Seniors by Trudy Lieberman.

1. Your local area Agency on Aging (AOA) can supply a list of nursing homes in your area. To get the number of the AOA near you check the yellow pages of your phone book or call the Eldercare Locator (800) 677-1116.
2. A good source of information is the long-term care Ombudsman in your area.
3. State survey reports are essential, listing deficiencies for such things as failure to treat bedsores, failure to keep accident hazards to a minimum, and errors in administering medications. This report must be posted in the nursing home in a conspicuous place; failure to do so is a red flag.
4. A tool for seniors with Internet access is the Consumer Reports "Updated Nursing Home Watch" list at http://www.ConsumerReports.org. The staff of Consumer Reports looked at the state survey reports for some 17,000 nursing homes in the government's Medicare database. For each facility, they examined the last four survey reports and looked at patterns of deficiency citations. The nursing homes that appear on this list were found to have questionable patterns.

Every person on Medicare should read the book "Complete Guide to Health Services for Seniors," by Trudy Lieberman & the Editors of Consumer Reports, December 2000, $19.95. This book gives comprehensive, useful information on finding and financing assisted living, nursing homes, home care, and adult day care. The "Nursing Home Watch" list is included in the appendix.

April 2002