Trenton, NJ – Legislation sponsored by Senator Angela V. McKnight to safeguard elderly and disabled individuals receiving at-home care from abuse has been moved forward by the Senate Commerce Committee. The bill aims to suspend the certification of Homemaker-Home Health Aides who face charges or accusations of abuse, neglect, or violence with credible evidence against them.
Senator McKnight emphasized that while most aides are responsible professionals, there are still reported cases of abuse, especially among vulnerable populations relying on at-home care. Under the bill, S-1814, the New Jersey Board of Nursing would defer or withhold certification approval from applicants facing allegations of patient abuse, neglect, or violence as per a law enforcement agency’s filing.
The legislation also empowers the Board to defer or withhold certification if credible evidence is received, backing claims of abuse by an applicant against a patient. Reports from the US Department of Justice reveal that approximately 1 in 10 adults aged 65 or older experience some form of elder abuse within a year. The bill successfully passed the committee in a unanimous 5-0 vote.