Brooklyn Nursing Home Residents at High Risk of Bed Sores

Despite a federal program meant to combat bedsores, nursing home residents in NYC “experience painful and preventable bedsores at a rate almost 50 percent higher than the national average,” reports The New York World:

In New York City, 16 percent of high-risk residents have one or more of the painful wounds, compared with 11 percent nationwide.

An interactive map they created shows stats for homes around the city, based on data from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Nursing home star ratings come from the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services which combines data on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Those in our area include:

New York Congregational
135 Linden Blvd at Rogers
Star rating: 4
High-risk patient pressure sore rate in 2011: 21, up 5 points since 2007
Low-risk patient pressure sore rate in 2011: 0

Caton Park Nursing Home
1312 Caton Ave at Rugby
Star rating: 3
High-risk patient pressure sore rate in 2011: 7, down -2 points since 2007
Low-risk patient pressure sore rate in 2011: 1, down -1 point since 2007

Palm Gardens Care Center
615 Avenue C at E 7th
Star rating: 2
High-risk patient pressure sore rate in 2011: 32, up 6 points since 2007
Low-risk patient pressure sore rate in 2011: 6

Ditmas Park Care Center
2107 Ditmas Ave at E 22nd
Star rating: 3
High-risk patient pressure sore rate in 2011: 21, up 1 point since 2007
Low-risk patient pressure sore rate in 2011: 2, down -3 points since 2007

They also note that in New York state, “black residents are more likely than white residents to develop pressure sores,” and that though a facility faces fines on state and federal levels, it’s not enough to ensure that residents stop suffering.

The New York State Department of Health has an online form for submitting nursing home complaints, which is available here.