Our immediately preceding blog post (March 29) reported data from HealthGrades, a health care ratings company, indicating the great disparity that exists in the quality of care provided by hospitals across the country. As HealthGrades notes, the frequency of medical malpractice incidents varies widely among medical facilities.

That variance is just as likely to occur at nursing homes, where reports of malpractice, abuse and neglect are steadily on the rise in virtually all states. A recent government report entitled "Elder Justice" indicates, for example, that elder abuse cases jumped nearly 30 percent from 2008 to 2010 in Virginia. Data from other states is similar.

Which begs the question: How can a person best ensure that his or her parent or parents will receive reasonably good -- ideally, optimal -- care at a nursing home facility?

Experts who work with the elderly state the following focus will greatly increase the likelihood.

First, make an educated list of possible choices (there are online tools available to assist in the process) and then work on getting the number down to a couple. Find out -- from doctors, friends, elderly advocates -- how much time staff members at a home spend with residents.

Then look at costs. Reality is always at the forefront in such a consideration. Literally, it pays to check.

Don't be content with a single visit. Rather, visit several times, and at different times, talking to a wide spectrum of people. Observe interactions among staff and residents. What is the mood? Do workers know residents' names?

Insist on sitting down and asking hard questions of senior management at each facility. Your parents or other loved ones are involved here, so being bold is strongly advisable. Ask for qualifications, inquire about employees' wages, the turnover rate among staff and whatever else seems relevant to you.

And, perhaps most importantly, inquire frankly regarding the criminal records of any staff members. A recent government study indicates that more than 90 percent of nursing homes have at least one worker who has been convicted of a crime, and nearly half of them have several convicted criminals on staff.

The bottom line: Take your time, collect relevant material, make onsite visits and ask pertinent questions.

Related Resource www.marketwatch.com "How to Pick the Right Nursing Home" March 29, 2011