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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Saturday, May. 10, 2008

Nursing homes aren't so great

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I was astounded by the article "California's nursing homes are getting better" (April 27, Page B-7). As an advocate for more than 25 years with daily contact with families whose loved ones are in nursing homes, I can attest to the fact this is far from the truth. This article quoted the president of the nursing home industry lobby group and the administrator of a facility in Modesto. Certainly biased to this issue.

The Foundation Aiding the Elderly recently had to bring a lawsuit against the state because of the Department of Public Health's failure to provide regulations required by legislation on staffing requirements, which they had failed to do so for six years.

It has been reported that 75 percent of California nursing homes are insufficiently staffed. Staffing is the most crucial aspect of ensuring adequate nursing care. Your headline that California's nursing homes are getting better sent a message to your readers that is totally inaccurate and misleading, giving citizens a false sense of security that their loved ones are getting better care.

Maybe next time those of us in the trenches daily, seeing what is really going on in California nursing homes, will be interviewed by your reporters.

CAROLE HERMAN

president, Foundation Aiding The Elderly

Sacramento