Senator Has Sponsored Legislation to Protect New Jersey’s Vulnerable Nursing Home Residents
TRENTON – Senator Jeff Van Drew will take part in a news conference with New Jersey Public Advocate Ronald K. Chen today in the Statehouse to unveil the results of an investigation into the business practices of an assisted living facility in Cape May County which involuntarily discharged elderly residents once their savings were spent.
The news conference will take place today at 1:00 PM in Statehouse Room 109, across from the Assembly Chambers.
“New Jersey’s elderly residents are a precious resource, a living connection to our past, and are not a burden to be discarded once they’ve been bilked of their life savings,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic. “The actions of Assisted Living Concepts are entirely inexcusable, particularly when Medicaid funding was available to offset the cost for these residents’ care. I applaud the Public Advocate for bringing these heinous and callous acts to light, and I promise to do more to protect seniors in New Jersey.”
In addition to the report unveiled by the Public Advocate today, Senator Van Drew has sponsored a bill, S-2066, which would amend State law to require that all licensed assisted living facilities in New Jersey maintain at least 10% of their beds for Medicaid-eligible residents. Under current law, only facilities that opened after September 1, 2001 are required to meet that standard.
Senator Van Drew said that he plans to push for swift consideration of that bill when the Senate reconvenes in May.