Editorial: Adding oversight to nursing homes

The president also directed states to impose immediate penalties on nursing homes that repeat serious violations. Sometimes nursing homes, including those in Nevada, get too many chances to get into compliance. Clinton also is asking Congress to pass new legislation that would create a registry listing workers who have a history of abusing patients. In addition, Clinton's bill would require nursing homes to do criminal background checks on new employees.

A Nevada state official told the Sun's Art Nadler that each of the 48 nursing homes throughout the state receives unannounced inspections at least once a year, sometimes at night and on weekends. It's possible that to comply with some of the new federal requirements Nevada might need more funding, but if there ever was an area that deserves a boost in funding, this is it.

For people confronting middle age, one of the most terrifying issues they might face is finding decent nursing home care for their parents. And with Nevada's population explosion, many baby boomers have moved here while their parents live far away. Conversely, there are many seniors who have moved here to retire who have family elsewhere in the nation.

When people are separated, sometimes by thousands of miles, it makes it nearly impossible for the children to adequately check up on the care their parents are receiving in a nursing home. The anxiety that this creates can be unbearable. Congress should act as soon as possible on Clinton's plan that should help improve the quality of care people receive in nursing homes.

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