Due to the fact that we must protect the elderly in care centers, convalescent homes, hospices, and while under supervision with in-home care we have many laws in place to help the elderly. These laws, rules, regulations, and licenses protect the elderly from abuse, which is far too common. Unfortunately, many of these laws require only a nurse to administer certain things to the elderly. Any violation can mean a facilities license will be pulled. All this makes sense on the surface.
However, there are many cases where this is causing a rapid rise in costs for elder care due to these laws. Meaning many folks cannot afford the care and run through all their life's savings, until they become dependent on the State to care for them; that means at the taxpayer's expense. Run-away costs, regulations, and bureaucracy is effecting the availability of services. Thus, due to supply and demand this raises the prices of care to an insane cost.
That combined with law suits, fines and litigation is another double whammy and shock to the escalating costs of elder care due to the myriad of elder laws. In some cases, senior assisted living homes must have nurses on staff and available at all times to prevent breaking the law. Remember there is a severe shortages of nurses in the US and with 70 million baby boomers reaching that ripe old age, this problem will become worse.
With all the laws and lawsuits, nurses are being sued just like doctors were for malpractice. All the bad publicity and hype used during these lawsuits and the "A" would being used (abuse) is causing more laws to be put into place to further protect the elderly. It's a vicious circle with no end in sight, it's a huge problem and something must be done to fix it.
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