Oklahoma Long Term Care Security Act aims to cut down on abuse, neglect

A new law going into effect Saturday could help people who cannot protect themselves.The Oklahoma Long Term Care Security Act aims to cut down on abuse and neglect in facilities such as nursing homes or adult day cares through national background checks for employees.Fingerprint-based background checks will now be required before someone is hired for a health care job where they'll have direct access to patients or residents. The law passed nearly two years earlier and will be implemented March 1.“This is a step in the right direction,” said Wes Bledsoe, an advocate for improved care in Oklahoma’s nursing homes.However, Bledsoe worries it won't be enough.“How do we do criminal background checks on foreign nationals?” he said.Bledsoe says there are many nursing home employees in Oklahoma hired from other countries.“We have had two major cases where that has been a major disaster,” he said.In 2013, two nurses’ aides were caught on hidden camera abusing Eryetha Mayberry in an Oklahoma City nursing home. Both nurses were from Nigeria.In January, Uqbasilassie Zerie from Eritrea pleaded guilty to raping two women while working at a Tulsa area nursing home.Bledsoe also has concern about a clause in the new law allowing people convicted of crimes like assault, battery and robbery to work in nursing homes seven years after their crime.“Most of us would probably not hire someone like that to work in our homes,” he said. “It makes no sense.”The law isn't retroactive and will only apply to new employees.

A new law going into effect Saturday could help people who cannot protect themselves.

The Oklahoma Long Term Care Security Act aims to cut down on abuse and neglect in facilities such as nursing homes or adult day cares through national background checks for employees.


Fingerprint-based background checks will now be required before someone is hired for a health care job where they'll have direct access to patients or residents. The law passed nearly two years earlier and will be implemented March 1.

“This is a step in the right direction,” said Wes Bledsoe, an advocate for improved care in Oklahoma’s nursing homes.

However, Bledsoe worries it won't be enough.

“How do we do criminal background checks on foreign nationals?” he said.

Bledsoe says there are many nursing home employees in Oklahoma hired from other countries.

“We have had two major cases where that has been a major disaster,” he said.

In 2013, two nurses’ aides were caught on hidden camera abusing Eryetha Mayberry in an Oklahoma City nursing home. Both nurses were from Nigeria.

In January, Uqbasilassie Zerie from Eritrea pleaded guilty to raping two women while working at a Tulsa area nursing home.

Bledsoe also has concern about a clause in the new law allowing people convicted of crimes like assault, battery and robbery to work in nursing homes seven years after their crime.

“Most of us would probably not hire someone like that to work in our homes,” he said. “It makes no sense.”

The law isn't retroactive and will only apply to new employees.