Registry offers instant access to elder care complaints
Families can go online to learn whether caregiver has run afoul of DHSS
BY ANGIE BASIOUNY
THE NEWS JOURNAL
AUG
Delaware residents who need a caregiver for their elderly loved ones now have an easier way to check up on a potential hire.
The state has activated an online Adult Abuse Registry that anyone can access to learn whether a caregiver has been investigated by the Department of Health and Social Services for a complaint of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation of the elderly.
The registry has existed for years, but not on the Internet. Previously, anyone making a request to check a name would have to do so in writing and wait for weeks to get the results. With the online registry, the results are instantaneous.
"I hope this gives people the peace of mind that they can get information and access it quickly," House Majority Whip Valerie J. Longhurst, D-Bear, said Tuesday.
Longhurst sponsored House Bill 165, which created the online registry and requires health care providers, nursing homes and similar facilities to use it before making a hire. The bill -- championed by AARP of Delaware -- passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed by Gov. Jack Markell on June 30.
Markell said the registry is a key to helping seniors age in place.
Delaware's senior population is growing faster than in most states, according to DHSS. Nationwide, the population over age 65 is expected to double by 2030. In Delaware, that number is projected to grow by almost 134 percent.
"Putting the Adult Abuse Registry online will protect our seniors and help them safely remain in their homes as they age," Markell said.
The registry lists names with a civil finding of abuse, neglect, mistreatment or exploitation. It does not contain names of people with criminal convictions because it is compiled using complaints investigated by DHSS only.
The names are placed on the registry for a fixed period that depends on the severity of the incident.
Senate Majority Leader Patty Blevins, D-Elsmere, co-sponsored the bill. She said she doesn't think having the registry online will significantly increase the number of people who need it. But it will make it simpler for those who do.
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What a great idea! It would be better if other states and countries adopt the same. Such Registry should encompass ALL forms of elder abuse; not just those relating to care homes.
................. AC
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