Gov. Steve Beshear pledged to call a series of forums across the state to address long-term care issues in the Bluegrass in 2013.
The move came in response to a report critical of long-term care in Kentucky.
Kentuckians for Nursing Home Reform founder Bernie Vonderheide alerted Beshear to the report from Florida-based group Families for Better Care last August. On a scale of A to F, the survey gave Kentucky’s nursing homes a “D."
Friday, Lexingtonians were invited to share their thoughts on the issue.
More than 50 people attended the forum in Lexington aimed at gathering input from citizens about how to improve care.
Sherry Kulp, Executive Director of the Nursing Home Ombudsman Agency of the Bluegrass, says the participants were asked about how they envision quality care, who's responsible for ensuring it, and what changes they would make to facilities.
"The majority of the complaints that we work on are related to what we would characterize as short staffing issues. A lot of people tell us that when they are in long-term care facilities, they feel like there are not enough staff to meet their needs," she says.
Meanwhile, the Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities is challenging a number of claims made in the report that sparked the debate. They say Families for Better Care is primarily funded by Florida law firm Wilkes & McHugh, which is known for its aggressive litigation against Kentucky nursing homes.
The association also says the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services show staffing levels in Kentucky rating higher than seven of the states that received "A" rankings under the Families for Better Care grading system.
As for Friday’s forum, the results will go to the state Elder Abuse Committee.
