A recent article in the Seattle Times about the struggles that nursing homes have had with low staffing levels should come as no surprise to those with loved ones living in those facilities; even the best ones have such issues. Why?
Of more concern to the public should be the issue that Washington state has not made such care a higher priority. There is no excuse for this situation. And I haven’t seen similar studies or concerns about behavioral health care facilities nor adult family homes; what’s happening with them?
Digging a little deeper it appears that “there hasn’t been sufficient funding” for government oversight of these facilities or more severe penalties for those facilities not in compliance. What’s with that?
It should be obvious to anyone that quality health care in the state for physical or mental illnesses is prioritized too low. Oh, plenty of funding is made available, but with no real health care “system” that would provide not only oversight and a comprehensive performance measurement system that would preemptively discover shortfalls in our health care and shore up those parts that are failing or have fallen, we have what we have and it is what it is!
Aren’t we tired (better, afraid) of all this? Let your state legislators (and your Congressional team know your concerns. Speak some truth to power! It’s an election year; they will listen to what you are saying.
Jim Bloss
Monroe
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