Bill > A4855

Introduced Session

This bill requires the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to include memory care training in the ombudsman's annual long-term care training program. The Ombudsman is responsible for securing, preserving, and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of New Jersey's long-term care residents, through investigations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation; legislative and regulatory advocacy; policy work; and education and outreach. Under current law, the Ombudsman is required to establish, in consultation with the Department of Health, an annual long-term care training program which, at a minimum, is to address the following subjects: the rights of residents of long-term care facilities; fostering choice and independence among residents of long-term care facilities; identifying and reporting abuse, neglect, or exploitation of residents of long-term care facilities; long-term care facility ownership; updates on State and federal guidelines, laws, and regulations that pertain to long-term care facilities; and issues, trends, and policies that impact the rights of long-term care residents. This bill expands the required list of subjects to include: the causes and progression of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, and methods to deal with the specific problems encountered in the care of residents with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. This annual training program is required to be completed by the ombudsman's investigative and advocacy staff, the ombudsman's volunteer advocates, and Department of Health long-term care facility surveyors, inspectors, and complaint investigators. Subject to the availability of staff and funding, the training program is offered to residents of long-term care facilities, those residents' family members, advocacy organizations, government agencies, and long-term care facility employees.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Mila Jasey (D)*,  Angela Mcknight (D)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Senior Services Committee (on 11/14/2022)

Official Document