A recent report published by U.S. News & World Report ranks Missouri near the bottom of all states in its rankings of nursing home quality throughout the country. It is ranked 47th. Neighbors in Illinois fared little better, coming in 46th in the 2025 Best Nursing Homes list.
The U.S. News researchers used data gathered from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to compile its rankings. Among the factors that led to low rankings were staffing shortages, patient safety issues and how much anti-psychotic medications are used on patients. These are all factors – along with many others – that families should consider when looking for a facility for a loved one, whether it’s for short-term care after surgery or an extended hospital stay or for long-term care.
The researcher in charge of the study noted that high staff turnover rates were found both Missouri and Illinois nursing homes. It’s not all bad news, however. Of the nearly 500 nursing homes in Missouri, 21 received a 5-star rating, which is the highest.
The dangers of anti-psychotic medication misuse and overuse
The overuse of anti-psychotic prescription medication is considered a sign of a facility that’s not “high performing,” according to those who did the study. The researcher noted that “a significant proportion of patients at short-term care and residents at long-term care receive anti-psychotic medication.”
While this type of medication isn’t prohibited in nursing homes, it should be dispensed only when necessary and not just to make patients less agitated. According to one analysis done by the CMS of the use of antipsychotics in nursing homes, “28.5 percent of the doses received were excessive and 32.2 percent lacked appropriate indications for use.”
The CMS notes that “it is important to seek the underlying cause of distressed behavior, either before or while treating the symptom.” This could be anything from a psychiatric or psychotic illness to an “environmental stressor” like noise or heat.
Treating someone with an anti-psychotic medication when they don’t need it or for longer than they need it without a gradual dose reduction (GDR) can lead to a number of harmful physical and emotional side effects. These drugs can also interact badly with other medications a patient is taking.
It’s crucial for family members to be aware of all medications (both prescription and non-prescription) administered to their loved one in any kind of care facility. If a loved one has suffered harm due to the negligent administration of anti-psychotic or other medications, it’s worthwhile to get legal guidance to seek justice and compensation.
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