Looking Out For Grandma

More than 90 percent of nursing homes hired employees with criminal convictions according to a new government report obtained by CBS News.

Government investigators ran background checks on all workers who were employed on June 1, 2009 at 260 nursing homes across the country. The results showed 92 percent of the facilities hired at least one employee with a criminal conviction.

The report, by the Inspector General for Health and Human Services, also says that at nearly half of the nursing homes, "five or more individuals" with criminal backgrounds were hired.

Investigators found seven registered sex offenders employed in five different nursing homes. Overall 43 percent of the criminal convictions were for property crimes such as "burglary, shoplifting, writing bad checks."

The government is offering programs that will help a universal background check system.  Under some conditions, the government will cover the cost of the background checks.  Families who do not know what to ask or expect are putting their loved ones in situations that can lead to danger for their vulnerable elderly relatives.  I will follow up on this and continue to address this particular situation.  I worked in the health care industry for several years, and I have seen the best and worst of what our long-term care institutions have to offer.  Any comments or contributions are certainly welcome.