A new U.S. Senate report called "Uninspected and Neglected" found that decades of underfunding for nursing home inspection agencies has put older residents and people with disabilities at risk.
The report came from the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, which obtained data from every state, including Arizona. The focus was on nursing homes that receive payment from Medicare and/or Medicaid.
It found that even with funding, some states like Arizona are struggling to fill surveyor positions.
These are the people who inspect long-term care facilities. Low pay, burnout and retirement were some of the reasons why surveyors are leaving the field.
Arizona was one of 42 states that attributed turnover to low pay. The report made 10 recommendations, including increasing funding.
