Title
An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending and supplementing the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances, through the creation of a new Chapter 575, entitled "Elder Care," in order to create protections for the County's vulnerable elderly residents living in nursing home and other assisted living environments.
Body
WHEREAS, the United States Census Bureau estimates that, as of 2007, Allegheny County had 208,105 residents aged 65 or over, a figure which comprises 16.9% of the County's total population; and
WHEREAS, the Census Bureau also estimates that, as of 2007, Allegheny County had another 62,040 residents aged 60 to 64, and another 81,843 residents aged 55 to 59; and
WHEREAS, the Census Bureau statistics indicate that a total of 351,988 County residents were aged 55 or older as of 2007, a figure which represents 28.7% of the total population of the County; and
WHEREAS, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health's 2008 Allegheny County Health Profile, 63 nursing homes operated to provide services to over 8,000 County residents as of 2006, with an average facility occupancy rate of 90.8%; and
WHEREAS, also according to the 2008 Allegheny County Health Profile, the costs of nursing home care are high, with an average resident stay of 181 days and an average semi-private daily room cost of $200 yielding a total room cost of $36,200 for an average nursing home stay; and
WHEREAS, media reports have disclosed multiple instances of fraudulent diversion of residents' assets away from providing for the costs of care by nursing home employees and other individuals within Allegheny County; and
WHEREAS, it is the judgment of Council that care-dependent residents of the County are in n...
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