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Welch co-sponsors bill that would protect patients in long-term care facilities

By Michelle Symington

Staff Writer



WEST SPRINGFIELD State Representative James Welch (D-West Springfield) has co-sponsored a bill that is designed to protect patients who reside in long-term care facilities from sex offenders who reside there as well.

According to Welch, as the law currently stands, nursing home and long-term care facilities are not allowed to give out information about a sex offender who is admitted to a facility.

He said that the general community may be notified about a sex offender and the information may be posted in a local police station, but that same information is not allowed to be posted inside the care facility.

"They are following state guidelines and cannot give the information out," he said. "This [bill] would change that."

Welch explained that the bill stems from an incident that occurred at a nursing home in Norwood, in which a sex offender was caught sexually assaulting his roommate.

He said that the bill would give a care facility the flexibility to make sure that everyone, including patients, family members of patients and staff, is aware that a sex offender is residing at a care facility.

According to Welch's press release, "the bill would require admitting personnel of care facilities to notify the police within 24 hours of a sexual offender's admission."

The police department would then supply the care facility with all of the information necessary to protect other residents, such as the offense for which the offender was convicted, the date of conviction, physical description and, if available, a picture of the sex offender.

Welch said such legislation is very important.

"I think everyone can think of a family member who is in a nursing home or who did reside in a nursing home," he said. "Their safety and [the safety of] everyone living there should be at the forefront because they are the most vulnerable citizens."

He said that the bill has been drafted and should be filed soon if it has not been filed already.

He added that he believes many legislators support the bill.

"I think it would be hard to vote against something that would take positive steps toward protecting the elders," he said.