Alarm raised over arrears owed by Family Dept. to centers for elderly

Federation of Long-Term Care Institutions President Jonathan Morales Adorno

By The Star Staff

The Federation of Long-Term Care Institutions (FICPRO by its acronym in Spanish) is deeply alarmed by the substantial payment arrears from the island Family Department, which it says are critically undermining the operations of facilities dedicated to the care of older adults.

FICPRO President Jonathan Morales Adorno has revealed that many centers are burdened with debts of up to two years, exceeding $2 million. Some facilities are claiming debts of $40,000, $70,000, and even $90,000. Others have contended with late payments since 2020, illustrating a severe and ongoing crisis.

“The cycle repeats itself,” Adorno said in a statement issued Thursday. “In 2023 alone, the Department of Family Affairs owed approximately $4 million to long-term care facilities housing seniors.”

Adorno stressed that the delay has led to serious financial instability for many of the 587 FICPRO-affiliated institutions, which are struggling to meet their obligations and ensure the high-quality, continuous care that island seniors deserve.

The amounts owed are indispensable, he said, for sustaining operations and fulfilling contractual commitments related to food services, 24-hour care, professional staff payroll, and essential utilities, including water, electricity, telephone and gas.

Adorno demanded that the government fulfill its financial duties. “Given the urgent crisis affecting abandoned seniors, it is only fair that providers receive prompt payment for the essential services rendered,” he said. “Children who abandon their parents are just as irresponsible as the government when it delays payments for our essential care, love, food, protection, and safe housing for thousands of seniors.”

Before the hurricane season, long-term care facilities must strictly comply with Law 88 of April 14, 2018 (Service Provision Guarantee Law), which mandates that facilities have a reliable power source capable of continuous operation during power outages and maintain sufficient fuel supplies for at least 20 days post-disaster. Additionally, they must stock essential medications and basic necessities for this duration, and have a water cistern with adequate capacity for at least five days.

Adorno emphasized that institutions do not receive assured monthly payment dates from the Family Department, severely impeding their ability to manage finances effectively based on their budget and projected income.

“The inefficiency of this payment process by the Department of Family Affairs jeopardizes the functioning of our institutions and, even more critically, the quality of life of our seniors,” he said.

Adorno, on behalf of the organization he leads, called for the immediate settlement of outstanding debts and the establishment of clear protocols to ensure effective monthly payments within the first five days of the succeeding month. FICPRO also called on all stakeholders to take decisive action to resolve this critical situation.

According to Family Department data, the agency subsidizes the care of more than 5,807 seniors placed in various centers across the island, all of whom risk losing essential assisted care services if the issue remains unaddressed, Adorno said.

Separately, in response to growing concerns about the safety and well-being of seniors housed in senior living facilities in San Juan’s House District 2, Rep. Ricardo “Chino” Rey Ocasio Ramos announced Thursday the introduction of a resolution ordering a thorough investigation into the conditions at the residential centers in question.

The initiative, filed by Representative Ocasio Ramos, seeks to ensure that the facilities have adequate emergency plans, sufficient resources, and the necessary infrastructure to respond effectively to natural disasters, especially during hurricane season.

“The well-being and safety of our seniors must be a top priority,,” the lawmaker said. “Recent experience during weather events has shown us that there is still much room for improvement in the nursing homes of District 2, where more than 1,000 people reside who deserve protection and dignified care.”

“We must act responsibly and urgently to ensure these centers are better prepared for any emergency,” he added. “We cannot allow a lack of resources or planning to put the lives of vulnerable people at risk.

The resolution directs the House Committee on Senior Citizens and Social Welfare to carry out a series of actions, including visits, interviews and requests for information from the nursing home administrations. The main objective is to evaluate their emergency plans, the operation of their facilities, the availability of backup equipment such as power plants and cisterns, and their response capacity in a crisis situation.