SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 28

49th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2010

INTRODUCED BY

Pete Campos

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON HOW TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ABOUT ELDER ABUSE AND HOW TO AVOID IT.

     WHEREAS, there is a wide scope of elder abuse ranging from physical to emotional, sexual and financial; and

     WHEREAS, a report commissioned by former New Mexico Representative Tom Udall found that over eighty percent of the nursing homes in New Mexico violated federal health and safety standards during state inspections; and

     WHEREAS, almost twenty percent of these homes had a violation that caused actual harm to residents or placed them at risk of death or serious injury;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the aging and long-term services department be requested to conduct a study on how to inform the public about elder abuse and how to avoid it; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of aging and long-term services.

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