Aging Studies Professor Addresses Senate Inquiry into Poor Performing Nursing Homes

Fox 13 sought out School of Aging Studies Professor Kathryn Hyer for perspective on the release of a list of nursing homes identified as providing persistently poor care. The list of nearly 400 facilities, of 15,000 in the U.S., was made public in response to an inquiry by U.S. Senators representing Pennsylvania, Bob Casey, a Democrat, and Pat Toomey, a Republican.

“People are in nursing homes because they need skilled care and they need the services required by (federal) regulations. But there’s a range within those homes, as you can see,” Hyer told Fox 13.

The list shows that many nursing homes do not provide high-quality care, she said. The challenge is ensuring that those at the bottom are at least providing adequate care.