Study shows consumers, employees recommend nursing homes

WAUSAU, WISC.-The “2009 National Survey of Consumer and Workforce Satisfaction in Nursing Homes” released by independent research firm My InnerView shows a majority of consumers report their willingness to recommend their facility. Sixty-eight percent of employees also recommend their facility as a place to work as either “excellent” or “good.” The recommendation of nursing homes shows incremental improvements every year since My InnerView began conducting research on these trends in 2005.

Overall, the number of consumers-classified as residents or family members-who would recommend a long-term care facility remains high at 85%, four percentage points higher than 2005. The number of residents who would recommend a nursing home increased by one percentage point over 2008. The likelihood of families to recommend a facility dropped by one percentage point from 2008.

Across the entire workforce, the report shows an increase in employees willing to recommend the facility as a place to work. Satisfaction among nurses and nursing assistants remains lower than the satisfaction of employees in other job categories; however, both types of workers have become more satisfied with their facilities since 2006, showing a sustained upward trend.

For the first time in any national survey of nursing homes, the 2009 report goes beyond reporting quantitative data, and identifies and rates keywords in the comments (or answers) respondents provided to open-ended questions. Using content analysis, factors identify what matter most to consumers and workers, and at the same time determines how positive or negative those factors are perceived to be.

‖ The prototype of MedCottage, a portable medical home designed so families can care for loved ones on their property as an alternative to LTC facilities, has been released ‖ Forty-two percent of individuals 65 years and older actively access the Internet, according to survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau ‖

“This is by far the largest database ever collected about the willingness to recommend a facility by residents, families, and employees in America’s nursing homes,” said My InnerView President Neil Gulsvig. “The data allow nursing home leaders and public policymakers to more precisely target quality issues and workforce retention efforts.”

To read My InnerView’s 2009 report in PDF format, go to www.iadvanceseniorcare.com/MyInnerView09.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I totally agree with you on this subject [“Tower of Babel” editorial, May 2010, p. 8]. So many people have objected and rallied against this bill, but did any of them actually read it? How can a person be so “for” or “against” something that they are not totally educated on? I think this is the overall problem with our voting system-people vote based on the wrong reasons and don’t educate themselves on the issues. Until I read the bill, I cannot side one way or the other.

Kim Mooi-Burns

Director of Finance

Ancilla Domini Sisters

Donaldson, Illinois

I read with interest your recent article on activities professionals [“Activities’ angst” editorial, June 2010, p. 8]. I would add that we seem to be ignoring the real problem, which is financing. Direct care staff is required by law and is paid for an entire shift. Activities personnel are not required by law and are therefore extra staff that needs additional funds to pay them. If direct care staff are already there and being paid, they can do the activities. It’s a problem with financing from the government, not logical care.

Chip Crowder

Nursing Home Administrator

California

Long-Term Living 2010 August;59(8):12