Government nursing home database flags 5% of facilities for abuse or neglect

A government nursing home database has begun flagging those recently cited for abuse or neglect, the Wall Street Journal reports.

By the numbers: Of the 15,262 facilities in the database, 760 — or about 5% — have been flagged with a red icon.

• The marks are updated monthly, and go away after the facility goes a year without an abuse citation.

What they're saying: Nursing home industry executives said the marks were misleading and could damage facilities' reputations, while consumer advocates pointed out that many cases of abuse go undiscovered or unreported.

Go deeper:

• Sexual and physical abuse rife in nursing homes
• More older Americans rely on Medicare and Medicaid
• The looming crisis in long-term care