The quality and safety of nursing homes are longstanding public concerns. Numerous studies over the years have identified widespread and significant deficiencies in care, including serious abuse and neglect, and degrading, inhumane conditions.

In light of these concerns, and the widespread persistence of substandard care and abuse, we undertook this analysis to compare the experiences of nursing home residents with the basic standards of care for animals. Can animals in a zoo or kennel expect better treatment and conditions than that which many human nursing home residents actually receive?

The following report provides the results of our findings in relation to 11 key categories of interest and concern. Click on a button on the right hand side to download an Issue Brief on any of the categories covered in the report.

Please Note: The point of this work is not to trivialize the experiences of either nursing home residents or animals but, rather, to illustrate how systemic failures to hold nursing homes accountable for abuse and neglect too often subject residents to conditions that not only fall below the federal nursing home standards of care, but also below accepted standards for the humane treatment of animals.

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Issue Brief: Freedom from Abuse and Neglect
Issue Brief: General Care and Treatment
Issue Brief: Sufficient Staffing with Appropriate Skills/Competencies
Issue Brief: Nutrition and Hydration
Issue Brief: Safe Food Handling
Issue Brief: Medical Supervision
Issue Brief: Stimulating and Safe Environment
Issue Brief: Freedom from Restraints
Issue Brief: Treatment of Injuries
Issue Brief: Appropriate Medications
Issue Brief: Infection Control and Prevention