NCJ Number
59229
Date Published
1978
Length
297 pages
Annotation
DURING 5 DAYS OF TESTIMONY, A NEW JERSEY COMMISSION FOUND WIDESPREAD FRAUD AND ABUSE AMONG THE 1,800 FACILITIES CARING FOR ABOUT 40,000 ELDERLY AND DISABLED PERSONS, MANY OF WHOM ARE FORMER MENTAL PATIENTS. REFORM IS URGED.
Abstract
ABOUT 1,500 OF NEW JERSEY'S BOARDING FACILITIES ARE UNLICENSED, WHICH MEANS THEY MUST CONFORM ONLY TO APPLICABLE LOCAL FIRE AND SAFETY STANDARDS. EVEN THESE STANDARDS ARE ENFORCED INCONSISTENTLY FROM JURISDICTION TO JURISDICTION. THIS TESTIMONY BEFORE AN INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE NOT ONLY POINTS OUT THAT MAJOR HEALTH AND SAFETY LAW VIOLATIONS OCCUR, BUT ALSO THAT THERE IS WIDESPREAD MISAPPROPRIATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND WELFARE CHECKS. AN EXPERT WITNESS FROM THE NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE TESTIFIED THAT THE HANDWRITING ON A SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK CASHED AFTER A RECIPIENT'S DEATH WAS THAT OF A BOARDING HOME EMPLOYEE. HOME OPERATORS IN SOME INSTANCES TRANSFERRED RESIDENTS FROM LICENSED TO UNLICENSED FACILITIES, YET KEPT THE LARGER CHECKS PAID BY THE STATE FOR LICENSED-HOME CARE. A FEW OPERATORS SKIMPED ON FOOD GIVEN RESIDENTS, PRESUMABLY POCKETING THE MONEY SAVED. NEW JERSEY IS URGED TO CENTRALIZE LICENSING AND SUPERVISION OF BOARDING HOMES, VIGOROUSLY PROSECUTE VIOLATIONS, REQUIRE GOOD RECORDKEEPING, AND SPELL OUT THE DUTIES OF BOARDING HOME OPERATORS. STATE MENTAL HOSPITALS AND LOCAL WELFARE AGENCIES MUST ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR FOLLOWING PERSONS PLACED IN BOARDING FACILITIES, AND SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION FIELD PERSONNEL BUT BE ALERT TO FRAUD. (GLR)