More than a dozen sex offenders live in Kansas nursing homes, the Wichita Eagle reported Sunday. Officials said there is not system in place to alert the facilities that the sex offenders are moving in.
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation report found that 19 of the 5,868 people in the sex offender registry listed nursing homes as their current residences. The sex offenders have been convicted of crimes that include indecent exposure and rape. Shockingly, 7 of the offenders lived in a single Wichita nursing home before being transferred to different facilities.
This news caused policy makers to consider implementing a system in which nursing homes will be made aware of any resident's status as a sex offender before they move into the facility. Another option is to build nursing homes specifically for aging sex offenders.
Illinois implemented policies and procedures that require nursing homes to run criminal background checks on all applicants. This procedure enables the nursing home administration to identify any type of criminal history including individuals who have been convicted of sex crimes. The procedure is detailed in the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act. For more information on the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, please see our recent 4 part blog on the Act.
Nursing homes should be a safe and friendly environment for all residents and staff. Illinois policy regarding criminal background checks is essential to maintaining that desired environment. Kansas legislators should consider taking a page out of our State's book and implement policies to protect its nursing home residents.
The attorneys at Ed Fox & Associates work to ensure that Chicagoland nursing homes follow the requirements set forth in the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act.
If you or someone you love has suffered abuse or neglect at the hands of nursing home staff or residents, call our experienced attorneys today.
