Groups representing long-term care homes welcome inspections

Jonathan Morales Adorno, president of the Federation of Long-Term Care Institutions, and Minerva Gómez, president of the Association of Owners of Long-Term Care Centers.

By The Star Staff

Jonathan Morales Adorno, president of the Federation of Long-Term Care Institutions (FICPRO), and Minerva Gómez, president of the Association of Owners of Long-Term Care Centers (ADCCLD), welcome random inspections of the 1,100 homes affiliated with both organizations.

They also strongly condemned the illegal and unethical practice of improperly sedating residents.

In response to public statements regarding allegations of improper sedation in long-term care homes and the recent closures of facilities by regulatory authorities, both Morales and Gómez said eight homes shuttered by the Department of Family Affairs between January and May were “clandestine and unlicensed” and did not belong to legitimate organizations that comply with state and federal laws.

“We are part of a highly regulated industry. The vast majority of licensed homes in Puerto Rico operate under strict regulations from the Department of Family and Health and Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA). Our institutions comply with inspection, audit, and surprise visit protocols that ensure the quality of services. Generalizing the entire industry based on isolated cases creates a misperception and undermines the trust of families and the dedication of hundreds of caregivers who work with love and commitment,” Morales Adorno said.

Gómez added, “We support fair and rigorous oversight in long-term care homes, but we reject general statements without evidence that cast suspicion on an entire industry committed to our seniors.” She has already sent a letter on the matter to Representative Wilson Román López and Secretary of the Department of Family, Suzanne Roig Fuertes.

Gómez emphasized that “oversight must be objective, proportional, and within the framework of the law, avoiding practices comparable to ‘fishing expeditions,’ which only generate mistrust. We ask: Were these remote complaints referred to the Department of Family Affairs’ Institutional Abuse Unit? Were they investigated? Were reports submitted? Was due process observed? Any facility that fails to guarantee protective and responsible care must face the consequences, but it is essential to ensure a lawful process. Generalizing affects our entire service industry.”

Morales Adorno not only condemned inappropriate practices but also emphasized that all medications, especially controlled substances, are stored similarly to those in hospitals. He stated, “Nursing homes have a medication registry that records the dosage given to each senior citizen, along with the time and the initials of the caregiver administering the medication. Once a senior citizen leaves the facility, these medications must be disposed of properly. The correct procedure is to contact the pharmacy with which the nursing home has a contract to collect the medications and manage their waste.”

“All duly licensed long-term care facilities in Puerto Rico have general practitioners, internists, and psychiatrists who visit our facilities and prescribe medications for senior citizens based on their condition. The nursing home only dispenses medication according to the doctor’s orders. We cannot administer medications without a doctor’s authorization. This task is performed by a nurse, who ensures that medication control is carried out properly,” summarized Morales Adorno.

As an organization committed to the well-being of older adults, FICPRO categorically rejects any practice that violates the health, dignity, and human rights of residents. Morales Adorno stated, “The improper use of medications as a form of control is not only unethical, but also illegal, and must be investigated and punished with the utmost rigor.”

Both FICPRO and ADCCLD agree that laws need to be improved and greater resources should be provided to both the Department of Family Affairs and ASSMCA.