AARP New Jersey's Statement on Comptroller’s Report on South Jersey Extended Care
TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey State Director Chris Widelo issued the following statement today following release of the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller’s report on South Jersey Extended Care’s financial fraud and poor care:
“Ensuring the highest quality of care in New Jersey’s nursing homes should be a top priority for state leaders. AARP New Jersey supports the state taking action to hold nursing homes accountable for poor quality care.
The issues uncovered at SJEC demonstrate the urgent need for increased transparency across the entire nursing home industry. There are more than 40,000 New Jersey nursing home residents who deserve safe, quality care and nothing less. This case is not an isolated incident, but a clear indication of a broken system. Without comprehensive transparency, we cannot fully understand the scope of these problems or effectively address them.
AARP New Jersey fully endorses New Jersey bill S1948/A1872, which aims to revise reporting requirements for nursing homes concerning financial disclosures and ownership structure. This legislation is a crucial step towards ensuring that nursing homes operate with the highest standards of transparency and accountability. By mandating comprehensive financial disclosures and clear ownership structures, we can better safeguard public funds and improve the quality of care for residents.
We urge the New Jersey legislature to pass this bill, the Governor to enact it, and the state to allocate sufficient resources to ensure these revised reports are thoroughly scrutinized and that all facilities comply with these standards.”
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About AARP New Jersey
AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. AARP New Jersey educates and advocates on behalf of those 50 and older on issues that are important to them, their families and to all Garden State residents. The organization works to strengthen New Jersey communities with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org/nj or follow @AARPNJ on social media.
