The second edition of the State Long-Term services and Supports (LTSS) Scorecard (2014), sponsored, in part, by the AARP, assigned New Jersey a 26th, and Pennsylvania a 42nd, overall ranking based on performance across twenty-six indicators, grouped into five dimensions, which include (1) affordability and access, (2) choice of setting and provider, (3) quality of life and quality of care, (4) support for family caregivers, and (5) effective transitions.

LTSS help persons-in-need perform activities of daily living that would be difficult or impossible for them to perform on their own. Services and supports are delivered in a variety of settings, but nearly everyone prefers to remain at home. When families must rely on nursing homes to provide those services and supports, family caregivers often attempt to provide oversight to ensure that care rendered by the nursing home or assisted-living facility is appropriate.

A Closer Look at the Effective Transitions Dimension

The Scorecard ranked New Jersey at 36 and Pennsylvania at 28 in the effective-transitions dimension, which shows that states that rely heavily on nursing homes for LTSS also demonstrate less effective transitions across care settings. That means that individuals with complex needs are more likely to experience inappropriate and costly hospitalizations and inadequate support in moving from a nursing home back into the community. This dimension aligns well with the quality of life and quality of care dimension.

The Scorecard explains that “unnecessary transitions among settings are disruptive, especially to people with dementia, and can increase the risk of medical errors. Moreover, when they occur at the end of life, they can indicate poor management of care or overly aggressive treatment.”

Notably, high ranking states tend to minimize disruptive transitions and focus more on helping nursing-home residents return to their homes and communities. Accordingly, states must actively facilitate those transitions. That is: provide adequate support  for movement from nursing homes back to the home- and community-based settings that most people prefer.

If you or a loved one has any questions regarding nursing home neglect, contact Stark & Stark today.