House to start probe into illegal elderly care centers

House Senior Citizens and Social Welfare Committee Chairman Ricardo Ocasio Ramos

By The Star Staff

The chairs of the House Government and Senior Citizens & Social Welfare committees, respectively, Víctor Parés Otero and Ricardo “Chino” Ocasio Ramos, have announced an investigation into the number of long-term care facilities for seniors operating in Puerto Rico without permits.

“What happened in Carolina this week, where officials from the Family Department removed seniors from a home that was operating without a permit and under deplorable conditions, must serve as a catalyst for action to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future,” Parés said. “That is why we are filing a resolution to investigate, among other things, how many homes like this are operating in Puerto Rico and what we can do to mitigate the problem.”

Last Monday, agents from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau, along with social workers from the Family Department, removed several individuals aged 65 and older from the so-called “Hands of God Home” in the municipality of Carolina, which was operating without permits or certifications.

At the scene, authorities discovered birds in the area designated for nursing, mattresses in poor condition, and objectionable odors, among other concerning findings.

“The case in Carolina began with a complaint of financial exploitation filed with the Family Department, which acted quickly,’ Ocasio noted. “However, without that complaint, this home would have continued operating without a permit and in almost inhumane conditions. Our committee will immediately begin an investigation into the operation of similar homes in Puerto Rico, and we will do everything we can from the House of Representatives to prevent circumstances like this from happening again. Our seniors deserve more than this.”

The resolution will be filed in the coming days, and the public hearing process regarding the situation will begin after Easter, the San Juan legislators said.