Sen. Breaux Proposes Elderly Protection Bill That Would Require Background Checks for Nursing Home Workers
Sen. John Breaux (D-La.), chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, on May 20 introduced a bill that would require criminal background checks on employees and contractors at federally funded long-term care facilities, the Baton Rouge Advocate reports. The "far-reaching" legislation, aimed at implementing protections for the elderly, also would:
- Centralize federal policy making, research and assistance at two new "elder justice" offices at HHS and the Justice Department.
- Mandate that local law enforcement be notified "immediately" if a crime is committed against a long-term care facility resident.
- Require nursing homes to give residents 60-day notice of closure and "assure the proper relocation" of patients and
- Provide federal grants, loans and tax incentives for federal, state or industry efforts to devise "model programs" on reporting crimes and fraud or reduce turnover, provide career training and promotions and improve wages and benefits for long-term care workers.
