To improve care at nursing homes across the state, AARP is pressing lawmakers to bring Kansas standards up to par with federal guidelines.

Based on more than 20 years of research, the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recommends at least 2.75 hours of nursing care daily, and preferably 3.9 hours. In Kansas — where the minimum requirement is just two hours over a 24-hour period — nearly a third of nursing homes have been cited in the past year for one or more deficiencies causing harm or putting residents at risk.

AARP is encouraging members to ask lawmakers to support increasing the hours required. For contact information, go to kslegislature.org or call 1-800-432-3924. … Back to Article