In one of his last acts before leaving office, former Governor Steve Beshear announced a new regulation that will take effect January 1, 2016 requiring adult care facilities in the Commonwealth to conduct a nationwide criminal background check on all new employees. This is excellent news for individuals who reside in these facilities, and their families, but this is not the only tool with which the former Governor equipped nursing homes and other adult care facilities to vet those working with the elderly and disabled.
The Kentucky Adult Caregiver Misconduct Registry lists the names of adult caregivers with claims of abuse or neglect in adult care facilities substantiated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Since its adoption in April 2014, 51 names have been added to the registry.
The Adult Caregiver Misconduct Registry is not an open record available to the public but can be accessed only by the entities and facilities engaged in professional adult care. The registry can be used by these facilities to check both new and current employees and volunteers.
We congratulate former Governor Beshear on his insight into signing into law the Adult Caregiver Misconduct Registry and sincerely hope all adult care facilities throughout the Commonwealth utilize this invaluable tool to help ensure that the best employees and volunteers are working with our most vulnerable citizens.