Families looking for facilities to care for their loved ones in North Carolina may begin having an easier time selecting an adequate adult day care, assisted living facility (ALF) or residential care facility for the elderly (RCFE) after the state implements a new rating system.  Similar to the well-publicized Medicare-rating system for nursing homes, North Carolina will rate assisted living centers and adult group homes on a four star system.

Unlike a current three-star system currently in place, the four-star system is intended to more accurately categorize facilities according to the quality of the care they provide.  Additionally, the newer rating system is intended to penalize facilities for providing inadequate care for stemming from problems such as medication errors and patient wandering.

Not surprisingly, some industry groups believe the new rating system may not provide a complete picture of each facility.  In this respect, I could not agree more.  No rating system-- no matter how well conceived-- can take the place of an in person visits (and preferably visits).  

Nonetheless, I certainly am a fan of any system that can help families with the difficult decision of what facility to select for a loved one.  As a lawyer who handles cases involving abuse and neglect in a group home setting, I wish other states would implement more intensive regulations of these facilities to protect our elderly population.

Read more about the new rating system for group homes here.

Related:

Are Group Homes A Viable Alternative To Nursing Homes?

Nursing Home Rating System Reveals Inferior Care Provided At For-Profit Facilities

What Is It Like To Live In A 1-Starred Nursing Home?

One year after the implementation of the Medicare nursing home rating system, where do we stand?