New Jersey State Ombudsman, Laurie Facciarossa-Brewer, is Quoted in an Article on a Proposed Bill that Would Mean Stiffer Penalties for Senior Care Homes in Cases of Abuse

March 09, 2020

The New Jersey Spotlight reports that long-term care facilities and their employees who fail to report abuse of senior residents will face steeply increased fines, under a bill introduced by New Jersey lawmakers. A-2719 is supported by Laurie Facciarossa-Brewer, New Jersey State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The article states the New Jersey state office has seen a 38% increase in reported cases over a five-year period, an increase she attributes to a shortage of direct care staff. “Studies have shown understaffing to be one of the underlying causes of elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes resulting in falls, bedsores, infections, resident-to-resident altercations and even physical abuse,” Facciarossa-Brewer said. “Clearly, when staff are overworked and over-stressed they are unable to provide the kind of personal attention that is required to ensure the safety, health and quality of life of the vulnerable elderly residents in their care.”