This act creates the Shared Care Program for families who provide the primary long-term care for an elderly person, attempts to increase public awareness regarding elder abuse, and requires uniform regulations for inspectors and surveyors of long term care facilities. New language prohibits facilities from reporting any noncompliance penalties as charitable contributions for tax purposes. Currently, this section requires practitioners to report any abuse or neglect of long term care facility residents.
New language provides that it is a crime to file false reports of elder abuse or neglect.
This section requires the Department of Health to develop an education and awareness program regarding elder abuse and neglect. This section requires the Department of Social Services to evaluate the requirements for and performance of inspectors and surveyors and to develop a uniform course of instruction.