According to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, new resources are available to conduct criminal background checks on those job seekers who hope to work in the nursing home industry.
On Wednesday, October 6, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made more than $13 million available to six states, including Florida, to help identify workers with a history of abuse to prevent them from working with nursing home residents. Those applying for a job will have their criminal history checked from a nationwide database as well as state abuse and neglect registries including, but not limited to, the Nurse Aide Registry and FBI files.
Nursing homes will benefit as well as hospice providers, long-term care facilities, and facilities for mentally disabled persons. Another 11 states have applied for funding and $160 million has been targeted to expand the program, which will run through September 2012.
Elder abuse is inexcusable treatment toward those who are unable to fend for themselves. Farah & Farah has seen several Florida nursing home abuse cases, many where for-profit homes cut corners putting profits over people. Elder abuse can include physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, exploitation, neglect and abandonment.
If you think a loved one is being abused or neglected call the Florida Department of Children and Families Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873 or the police if the situation merits immediate intervention. Florida nursing home abuse attorneys Farah & Farah will launch an investigation to determine who should be held accountable for elder abuse and neglect. Generally these issues can be resolved in one to two years.
