New rules for nursing home administrators put residents at risk

Over the last 12 months, both the federal and Pennsylvania governments have taken actions that could significantly impact safety at nursing facilities.

The United States has 15,452 nursing facilities according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, and 4.5 percent, or 702, are located in Pennsylvania, putting it behind only California, Illinois, Ohio, and Texas. As a result, Pennsylvania has a strong interest in the future of nursing homes. With Pennsylvania’s median age of 40 and 32 percent of the state’s population over the age of 55, Harrisburg has been turning its attention to this complex, highly-regulated industry.