Nursing home inspectors routinely overlook or minimize problems that pose a threat to patients, according to Congressional investigators.

The investigators say they have found deficiencies such as malnutrition, severe bedsores, overuse of medications and nursing home abuse.

Nursing homes are typically inspected once a year by state employees The accountability office found that state employees missed at least one serious deficiency in 15 percent of the inspections checked by officials. Nine states had serious deficiencies in their nursing homes. They included, Alabama, Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wyoming.

In order to participate in Medicaid and Medicare, nursing homes must meet federal standards. After discovering these problems, the federal government has required some companies to sign compliance agreements which are monitored by outside experts.

The Bush administration said it agreed with the findings of the accountability office and would participate in supervising state inspectors more closely.

Although the federal government has pledged to take a more active role in monitoring nursing home abuse and negligence, it remains to be a widespread problem. If you believe someone you care about has been the victim of nursing home abuse, contact a nursing home abuse attorney by calling 1 800 ATTORNEY today.