US Nursing Homes Scored a D+ by Americans

Americans do not think highly of the country’s nursing homes.

A Gallup Poll published Tuesday found that, when asked to grade the quality of care delivered as United States nursing homes, the average grade given was a D+. This includes 42% of survey respondents who gave a D or F. Just 1% gave an A grade.

The top concerns of participants were the emotional and mental effects nursing homes have on residents, the types of care delivered, and the cost.

The poll found that seven in 10 U.S. adults would be somewhat uncomfortable residing in a nursing home if they could no longer take care of themselves, and almost as much as 61% also felt that way about sending a loved one to a nursing home. 

The respondents' primary concern was the quality of care, with 70% saying that living in a nursing home would be uncomfortable. 

These results come as the Biden administration recently proposed new rules for nursing homes this month that would call for almost 3 in 4 nursing homes to hire more staff to improve quality care. 

In the post-Covid era, some lawmakers have advocated for better nursing home qualities. CDC data found that over 200,000 staff and residents died in nursing homes during the pandemic. 

Among participants, 34% said they feared losing their independence, and 27% worried about their safety in a nursing home, the poll said. 

Cost concerns were at 49%, and 45% said that residing in a nursing home could negatively affect their mental and emotional well-being, according to the poll. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 15,600 people live in nursing homes, and 70% of the facilities are run for profit. 

Women, more than men, listed safety as a concern. Over four out of ten people said nursing homes are ineffective or not at all effective in providing a safe environment for residents and protecting them from infections, abuse, and neglect.