Unfortunately, there are no data to indicate that these payments are in fact being used specifically for residents personal care. Anecdotal evidence suggests the contrary, that little additional staff have been hired since these Medicaid payments began. A state study now under way may provide better information on this point. Another staffing problem is that of inadequate training. Training requirements range from a minimum of 20 hours to a maximum of 75 hours, depending on the type of facility and the care tasks being performed.
Adequate training reduces abuse, incontinence, falls, and a host of other preventable events.
The difficulty in knowing the quality of care being given at a particular facility is made more complex by the fact that not all adult care home beds are even inspected regularly. The state acknowledges that these facilities should be inspected but notes that recent budget cuts at the federal and state levels mean that inspection staffs are stretched too thin. With the increasing longevity of Americans has come an increasing incidence of Alzheimer s disease. There are currently an estimated 4 million people with this progressive, degenerative brain disease. About half of all nursing home residents have Alzheimer s or a similar disease.