Breaking News for Culpeper and Warrenton Accident Victims

Proposed Senate Bill Aims to Protect Elderly from Abuse

Posted on Mar 04, 2009

As the Chairman of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, Senator Herb Kohl (D., Wis.) has introduced legislation aimed at protecting nursing home and long-term care facility residents from abuse by known offenders.

The legislation would require the creation of a national database to share information about the criminal records of potential employees across states. Right now, there is no centralized system for nursing homes or other facilities to use to confirm that potential employees have a clean criminal record.

Sen. Kohl is hoping to avoid the fate of nursing home residents who have been raped or harmed by caregivers with a criminal record. A seven-state trial program revealed 7,000 applicants for elder care positions who had a violent criminal record or a substantiated history of abuse.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the cost of the plan will be $100 million over three years.