Federal report cites 94 percent of nursing homes for violations

Robert Pear of The New York Times reports that 94 percent of nursing homes in the United States violated federal health and safety standards in 2007 according to a recently released federal study. Although only 17 percent of nursing homes had violations that threatened the lives of residents, many were cited for abuse, neglect, confusing patients' medication and poor nutrition. The frequency and proportion of the problems ranged from state to state. Violations were reported in 76 percent of nursing homes in Rhode Island, while 100 percent of homes in Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming and the District of Columbia were cited in 2007.