Family Dept. to modernize licensing oversight at elder-care homes

Family Secretary Suzanne Roig Fuertes has visited numerous long‑term care homes across the island to hear directly from operators and residents and to reaffirm the government’s support for the sector.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Puerto Rico Family Department is moving forward with a comprehensive plan to strengthen oversight of elder‑care homes, an initiative aimed at modernizing licensing processes, expanding supervisory capacity, and improving response times to potential risks affecting older adults.

The push comes in the wake of a recent fatal incident in which an elderly woman was abused inside an elder‑care facility in Las Piedras, prompting renewed scrutiny of the island’s regulatory and supervisory systems.

Charges of attempted murder and elder abuse were filed Thursday in the case against Eddie Mojica Peña -- a caregiver for an 87-year-old patient at the Casa Dorada facility -- stemming from an incident that took place on July 11.

The agency detailed the ongoing work earlier this week, following comments made by Family Secretary Suzanne Roig Fuertes during a press conference Wednesday in which she emphasized that the plan has been under development for several months. It includes immediate actions as well as medium‑ and long‑term projects designed to improve operational capacity, expand the use of technology, and reinforce coordination across the department and with other government entities.

According to the department, one of the central components of the plan is granting licensing personnel access to the SIMCA system, a type of multivariate data analysis software, allowing them to review case histories, complaints, referrals and investigations to conduct more thorough evaluations of each home. The agency is also implementing a uniform process for issuing, notifying and collecting administrative fines, along with mechanisms to track pending sanctions.

The plan calls for updates to the Sulme system, a digital platform for managing facility licenses, to improve visibility of inspection visits and generate resources for operational improvements, training and additional inspections. A permanent training program for licensing officers is also underway, covering investigative techniques, conflict management, report writing, administrative hearings and strategies to prevent compassion fatigue.

Other measures include digitizing online payment processes; strengthening an internal risk‑classification system to prioritize homes with higher levels of noncompliance; and conducting periodic evaluations of continuing‑education requirements for administrators and operators on topics such as emergency preparedness, infection prevention, medication management and the rights of older adults.

The department is also formalizing collaborative agreements with the Department of Health, the Office of the Advocate for the Elderly, the Firefighters Bureau and the Emergency Management Bureau. A review of the licensing regulation is in progress to standardize inspection criteria, intervention protocols and guidance for personnel. Officials noted they are maintaining ongoing communication with power grid operator LUMA Energy and the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority to stay informed about service‑related issues that may affect homes.

“Our commitment is to continue strengthening supervisory mechanisms to ensure that every home operates in compliance with the law and provides a safe and dignified environment for our older adults,” Roig Fuertes said.

Since taking office, she has visited numerous long‑term care homes across the island to hear directly from operators and residents and to reaffirm the government’s support for the sector.

The Family Department underscored that the plan is part of a broader, continuous effort to raise quality standards, improve institutional response capacity, and ensure more rigorous and efficient oversight of elder‑care homes across the island.