Cuts to Medicaid funding don’t just impact budgets—they impact lives
Alabama nursing homes have been struggling to deliver high-quality care for years—and if the national debate around federal cuts to Medicaid leads to policy changes, that crisis would get even worse.
Alabama Reflector recently reported on the impact Medicaid cuts could have on nursing homes in our state. In Alabama, older and disabled adults account for two-thirds of state Medicaid spending, so any cuts would be felt first and foremost by our seniors. The consequences could be deadly.
Funding cuts could exacerbate staffing shortages
Caring for nursing home residents is labor-intensive work. Residents need to be bathed and changed. They need to take their medications as prescribed. They need to be monitored during meals to minimize the risk of choking or aspiration of food. And they need to be regularly turned in bed to avoid development of pressure ulcers (bedsores).
In an understaffed nursing home, all of those tasks become more difficult. Medications are missed. Residents are left alone in bed for many hours or even days at a time. Falls, choking incidents, and other accidents become more common. Injuries or illnesses may go untreated because staff aren’t closely monitoring residents for those issues. The consequences can be deadly.
If cuts are made to Medicaid, some facilities may close entirely, putting even more strain on those that remain. Facilities that do remain open may have to cut back on staffing, training, supervision, and supplies, reducing the quality of care.
In short, everything that can go wrong would become more likely to go wrong, and facilities would be less equipped to respond appropriately when something does go wrong.
Under changing circumstances, nursing homes need to put residents first
While some of the challenges nursing homes face are beyond their control, there is still a great deal that is within the facilities’ control. Nursing homes can choose to prioritize patients over profits and manage their limited resources to maximize the quality of care for their residents. Unfortunately, we’ve seen over and over again that too many facilities do just the opposite, and it’s the residents who pay the price.
Facilities need to do their best with limited resources and protect patients
The consequences of nursing home abuse and neglect can be deadly. Choking incidents can be fatal if staff don’t immediately intervene. Infections can become septic, which is an extremely dangerous complication for elderly patients. Traumatic injuries such as broken legs may not directly cause death, but they can be the start of a downward spiral from which a resident never truly recovers.
That’s why it’s so important for nursing homes to provide high-quality care, prevent injuries as much as possible, and respond promptly when an injury does occur. And that’s why it’s so important to hold them accountable.
Shuttlesworth Law Firm is here to help
Alabama nursing homes rely heavily on Medicaid, and funding cuts could make a bad situation even worse. If a nursing home’s negligence led to serious injury or death, you have the right to demand accountability. We’re here to help you take action.
Attorney Perry Shuttlesworth and his team at Shuttlesworth Law Firm, P.C. have been fighting for nursing home residents and their families for many years.
We have a winning track record in high-stakes nursing home abuse and neglect litigation, including multiple million-dollar recoveries. Give us a call or contact us online for a free consultation.
“I retained the Shuttlesworth Law Firm to handle a long-term care facility case for me. Perry and his staff were prompt, responsive, professional, and courteous throughout, and most importantly, they provided highly competent legal service. They couldn't have done a better job for me.” – Rick, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
