The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "nursing home conditions" ...
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Abuse and Neglect of the Brain Injured
These stories revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse and mistreatment of severely brain-injured people in the United States. At one of the largest rehabilitation facilities in the country, Bloomberg uncovered a decades-long history of death, abuse and neglect. Another story reported on thousands of other brain-injured patients warehoused in nursing homes with little or no treatment and in conditions that ranged from filthy to dangerous.
Tags: Abuse; brain-injured; rehabilitation facilities; death; neglect; nursing homes
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A rampant prescription, a hidden peril
The series investigated nursing homes’ use of antipsychotic medications on the elderly, a practice the US Food and Drug and Administration has long warned against because of potentially fatal side effects in people with dementia. The Boston Globe analyzed data from 15,600 nursing homes nationwide and found that about 185,000 residents received antipsychotics in 2010 alone, despite not having a medical condition that warranted such use. The series also revealed that Massachusetts nursing homes commonly use antipsychotics to control agitation and combative behavior in elderly residents who should not be receiving the powerful sedatives, yet state regulators seldom use their authority to reprimand or penalize facilities for this practice.
Tags: Antipsychotics; FDA; nursing homes; Alzheimer's disease
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Critical Condition
This investigation shows that the quality of care received by black seniors' is lower than that of white seniors. Illinois has the highest number of poorly rated black nursing homes in the U.S. Chicago's nursing homes that serve predominantly white seniors were all rated excellent by the federal government whereas none of those serving mostly blacks received that rating. Poverty was not linked to these low rankings. In the new analysis, they found significant racial disparities throughout the country between majority-black and majority-white homes.
Tags: nursing homes; black seniors; African-Americans; quality of care; racial composition; standard of care
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How A Long Island Nursing Home Got It's Way
"Ten Filipino nurses at a nursing home in Smithtown, Long Island were charged with endangering patients for resigning en masse to protest working conditions." Further investigation showed that U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer helped the home, which had "contributed more than $75,000 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee."
Tags: FOIA; senate; nursing home; medical care; Philippines; nurses; campaign contributions; Democrats; SentosaCare; politics
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Hope I Die Before I Get Old
Horror stories about nursing homes seem to be commonplace, so the New Times looked at how regulators respond when nursing homes harm or even kill their residents. Reporting showed that state regulators in Arizona go light on nursing homes, rarely invoking fines or other penalties. The public is kept in the dark about what really goes on in nursing homes because inspection reports are very hard to get.
Tags: Arizona Department of Health Services; nursing home conditions; nursing home inspection reports; nursing home deaths
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Alabama's Veterans Homes in Crisis
"Hundreds of pages of federal records document deplorable conditions at Alabama's three nursing homes for veterans. Residents and their families tell horror stories and plead for improvements. For the past five years, the homes were operated by a powerful political contributor who was using his influence in the state legislature to stop a change in management."
Tags: veterans affairs; nursing home; seniors; elderly; corruption
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Some Nursing Home Deaths Preventable
Hundreds of Minnesotans die in nursing homes each year from possibly avoidable conditions like pressure sores and dehydration. This investigation used medicare databases and health department records to quantify this problem and expose the flaws in the system.
Tags: nursing home; senior citizen; medicare
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Disarray in nursing homes
Contra Costa Times reveals that conditions in California nursing homes have only been growing worse after a "scathing report" published by the General Accounting Office in July 1998. The series reports on patient deaths resulting from staff errors and lack of appropriate supervision.
Tags: California Public Records Act; doctors; nurses; health; conflict of interest; autopsy records; CAR
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Aging Dangerously
"In the last two years, at least 19 people have died in Missouri nursing homes and care centers because of abysmal treatment or indifference. The penalties in most cases? Minor." The Post-Dispatch findings discovered little to no fines in 14 of those deaths. "Only in two homes, where five people died, did the state try to seize the operating license." In addition, records revealed poor living conditions citing that "during the two-year period, about one of every five facilities in the state was cited for endangering patients or failing to correct problems identified in a previous inspection." The article includes notices of noncompliance for deaths from July 1999 to July 2001 and details a patient case in Joplin, Mo.
Tags: nursing homes; elderly; caregivers; Division of Aging; Missouri Health Care Association; patients; licensing; fines; death
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Nursing Homes of Shame
A New York Daily News investigation reveals "the abuse and neglect of nursing home patients" and exposes "conditions that cry out for reform." The analysis finds that "thousands of elderly patients across New York City are warehoused in understaffed nursing homes where they suffer from neglect, malnutrition, dehydration, abuse and - in some cases - premature death..." A three-part series run in December focuses on "aides with criminal backgrounds, growing patient-on patient abuse and a state health department unable to keep up with complaints or properly monitor the industry." An investigation preceding the series reveals that "private nursing home owners throughout the city are amassing personal fortunes ... from government programs for the poor and elderly."
Tags: FOIA; health care; poverty; elderly; sexual abuse; neglect; New York health department