The highest priority for nursing homes is ensuring the safety of the residents they serve and protecting the citizens in their surrounding communities. About 100 of the 16,000 convicted sex offenders in Illinois (0.6%) are receiving medical or psychiatric care in Illinois long term care facilities. These individuals receive close monitoring and specialized treatment plans specifically overseen by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

By law, convicted sex offenders have the right to receive needed long term medical and psychiatric care services. The challenge for state policymakers comes down to the how and the where. The Illinois nursing home community has been working proactively with advocates and state agencies in addressing this difficult issue.

For the past year, the American Association of Retired Persons has convened a task force on this subject composed of the Attorney General’s office; the Illinois Departments of Public Health, Corrections, Aging, Human Services and the State Police; the provider associations and the senior advocacy groups.

Since this task force began, there has been improved communication among state agencies and closer monitoring of convicted sex offenders in nursing homes. A significant task force recommendation has been for state screening agents to check the State Police Registry on every potential nursing home resident prior to admission. This step will allow for increased sharing of prior treatment history and the development of even more specific treatment plans.

Although progress has been made, much more needs to be done to maximize resident safety and protect local communities. The Illinois Council on Long Term Care recommends that convicted sex offenders should be limited to a designated group of nursing homes that specialize in providing care to this population. These facilities should be certified by the state and should be required to follow strict regulations for the treatment of sex offenders and protection of all residents.

The Illinois nursing home community is committed to working collaboratively with all interested parties in addressing this challenging issue. This important topic must be dealt with seriously and deliberatively, not with a hysterical knee-jerk reaction. The Illinois Council has and will continue to work with the Attorney General, state agencies, senior organizations and other providers in ensuring a safe environment for the 100,000 residents living in Illinois nursing homes. Only by working together, not by pointing fingers, can significant progress be made.