Purpose:

This petition calls for urgent national reform to protect individuals with disabilities and vulnerable adults living in group homes and long-term care facilities. It demands enforceable oversight, accountability for neglect, and the establishment of independent advocacy systems to ensure no one suffers in silence due to systemic failures.

These failures violate fundamental civil rights, including the right to be free from abuse, neglect, and discrimination. They also breach key federal and state laws, including:

42 CFR § 483.12 – Guarantees freedom from abuse, neglect, and exploitation in federally funded long-term care facilities.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – Prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs receiving federal financial assistance.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – Requires equal access and protection from discrimination in public services and accommodations.
Olmstead v. L.C. (1999) – Affirms the right of individuals with disabilities to receive care in the least restrictive environment.

Additionally, these systemic issues violate international human rights standards under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which the U.S. has signed. The CRPD affirms the right of persons with disabilities to live independently, be protected from abuse, and access justice and healthcare without discrimination.

To address these violations, we demand that:

All staff working in long-term care settings—including group homes, nursing homes, and any facility receiving public funds—be required to hold at minimum a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification, or receive comprehensive, condition-specific training upon hire through a state-approved program administered by the facility.

Training must include education on the specific medical, behavioral, and cognitive conditions of the residents they serve, including but not limited to diabetes, dementia, brain injury, and mobility impairments.

Oversight mechanisms must be federally mandated and enforced to ensure that training is not “pencil-whipped” or falsified. Facilities must maintain verifiable records of staff certifications and training completion, subject to unannounced audits.

Federal funding must be allocated not only to group homes and nursing homes, but to all long-term care facilities, including those operating under Medicaid waivers, to ensure:

Proper staff training and certification
Facility maintenance and safety compliance

Adequate staffing ratios and emergency preparedness
Without these reforms, vulnerable individuals will continue to be placed in the care of unqualified staff, in environments that are unsafe, unsanitary, and unaccountable.

 

Why This Is Personal to Me
My father is an incapacitated man with a brain injury and left-side paralysis. He is wheelchair-dependent and resides in a DDS-funded group home under the ABI waiver program. Over the years, I have faced repeated barriers when trying to advocate for his care. Despite his condition, he missed 32 medically necessary appointments in one year. Staff often blamed him for refusing care, while others admitted appointments were canceled due to staffing shortages.

 

His diabetes was poorly managed, contributing to kidney issues and delaying his healing and overall progress. It also definitively caused a significant decline in his vision. He suffered from untreated hemorrhoids, cellulitis, and even an exposed bone wound from an untreated blister. Repeated infections in his left leg were due to poor blood circulation, which prevented timely healing—simple scrapes would become infected and escalate into serious conditions.

 

Previously, hygiene practices were unsafe—he shared sponges and shower chairs, and his personal care items were mishandled. He had shown up to medical appointments in soiled clothing and had been fed non-compliant meals like frozen pancakes. Following multiple meetings and advocacy efforts, to my knowledge, these hygiene concerns have since been addressed.

 

Despite doctors ordering food logs and heart valve surgery, the group home failed to follow through until I intervened. DDS has repeatedly failed to act, instead requesting more meetings and offering the provider additional chances. Because my father was under 65, Bristol Elder Services had no jurisdiction, and no ombudsman program existed for group homes, leaving us with no independent advocate.

 

This is not just about my father—this is about a system that fails to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

 

 

 

Why This Matters
In 2023, U.S. nursing homes received 94,499 health citations, with 7,654 (8.1%) related to abuse, neglect, or exploitation. Nearly 30% of abuse citations were due to failure to report incidents, and 11% were due to a lack of policies to prevent abuse 🔗 SeniorLiving.org – Elder Abuse Statistics 

 

1 in 2 people with dementia experience some form of abuse, making them among the most vulnerable residents 🔗 SeniorLiving.org – Elder Abuse Statistics 

 

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) found that up to 99% of critical incidents in group homes for people with developmental disabilities were not reported to law enforcement or state agencies, despite legal requirements 🔗 OIG – Group Homes Oversight Report 

 

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that oversight of Medicaid-funded long-term care is severely lacking. States often fail to detect or report quality-of-care issues, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) lacks a national strategy to monitor and enforce standards 🔗 GAO Report GAO-21-49 

 

DDS-funded group homes are not covered by ombudsman programs, leaving residents without independent advocates. While Massachusetts has a DDS Ombudsperson, this office does not function as an independent ombudsman and does not replace formal investigative or enforcement mechanisms 🔗 Mass.gov – DDS Office of the Ombudsperson 

 

Immunity doctrines, especially those expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, have shielded long-term care providers from civil liability—even in cases of gross negligence. As of 2020, 19 states granted nursing homes legal immunity, limiting families’ ability to seek justice 🔗 The Hill – Nursing Homes Need Increased Staffing, Not Legal Immunity 

 

Recent Legal Cases Highlighting Systemic Failures
New York Attorney General v. Centers Health Care (2023): Alleged $83 million in Medicaid fraud and severe neglect, including untreated bedsores and malnutrition.

 

Illinois Class Action v. Alden Group (2022): Accused of deliberate understaffing across 50+ facilities, endangering over 1,000 residents.
Georgia Case (2023): A paralyzed man documented his abuse on social media, prompting public outcry and intervention.

Pennsylvania Lawsuit (2020): A nurse’s aide was accused of breaking a resident’s ribs; the facility was fined and sued.

Florida Wrongful Death Suit (2023): A resident was fatally attacked due to lack of supervision despite known behavioral risks.

 

 

Take Action Now
No one should suffer in silence because of a broken system. The abuse, neglect, and systemic failures in group homes and long-term care facilities are not isolated—they are preventable. We must demand change.

 

Sign this petition to call on federal and state lawmakers to:

 

Mandate oversight and transparency in all publicly funded care facilities
Establish independent ombudsman programs for group homes
Enforce accountability for providers who fail to protect those in their care
Share this petition with your community, your representatives, and on social media.
Contact your legislators and urge them to support legislation that protects the rights and dignity of every vulnerable adult.

 

Together, we can end the cycle of neglect and ensure that every person—regardless of age or ability—receives the care, respect, and protection they deserve.

 

 

Federal Decision-Makers and Agencies
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The overarching federal agency responsible for health policy and funding.
Oversees multiple sub-agencies involved in long-term care regulation.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Regulates and funds long-term care facilities that participate in Medicare and Medicaid.
Sets federal standards for staffing, resident rights, and facility operations. 🔗 CMS – Long-Term Care Regulations

Office of Inspector General (OIG), who Investigates fraud, abuse, and neglect in federally funded care programs. 🔗 OIG – Group Homes Oversight

Congress who Controls federal funding allocations and passes legislation that impacts Medicaid, elder care, and disability rights.
Can enact or repeal rules like the national staffing mandate for nursing homes.

 

State-Level Decision-Makers
Administer Medicaid waiver programs (like ABI waivers) and determine eligibility, funding, and oversight for group homes and long-term care.

State Departments of Health and Human Services. License and inspect long-term care facilities. Enforce state-level regulations and respond to complaints.

State Legislators and Governors who Pass laws that govern long-term care standards, staffing requirements, and ombudsman programs.
Allocate state budgets for Medicaid and elder services 

State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs who Advocate for residents in nursing homes and assisted living, though many group homes are excluded from their jurisdiction.