A study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO)  identified that citations for abuse have more than doubled—from 430 in 2013 to 875 in 2017 and  abuse deficiencies cited in 2017 were more likely to be categorized at the highest levels of severity (deficiencies causing actual harm to residents or putting residents in immediate jeopardy)—than they were in 2013. The GAO has some recommendations regarding how these statistics should be used to improve the oversight needed to better protect residents from abuse.

Yes, abuse and dignity citations are becoming more and more common. The cause is not clear; however, some providers feel that the regulations and interpretive guidelines can be confusing and state-by-state regulations differ on what is and isn’t reportable. So we are at a cross road with the process of reporting and investigating abuse.

Stay tuned as the process is tightened up, and of course please share with us if you have been impacted by the additional oversight!