Trends in Long-Term Care - U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging

2875
be called to testify under oath. These are serious proceed<strong>in</strong>gs which
have profound effects on many lives.
I want to make very clear that as chairman of this subcommittee I
will do everyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> my power to preserve the constitutional rights
of witnesses. Several witnesses have written and asserted that a sort
of lynchl-mob atmosphere prevails here <strong>in</strong> New York, and they ask
to be excused from testify<strong>in</strong>g publicly. I have <strong>in</strong>sisted that all hear<strong>in</strong>gs
be open. I have great faith <strong>in</strong> the American public. I believe that
the public has the right to know the truth.
I also have great faith <strong>in</strong> the media to treat everyone fairly. However,
I feel operators have a legitimate compla<strong>in</strong>t <strong>in</strong> at least one
respect.
As the allegations of abuse have arisen, there has been a tendency
to generalize that all nurs<strong>in</strong>g home operators are corrupt profiteers
who offer poor care. This is not true. Just as the generalization dur<strong>in</strong>g
Watergate that because some politicians were corrupt, was untrue.
I would like to conclude on what might be considered a personal
note. I, perhaps more than anyone else, am tired of the slow progress
or no progress <strong>in</strong> this field.
For that reason, <strong>in</strong> 1974, I directed the subcommittee to devise a
report which would sum up where the Nation stands on nurs<strong>in</strong>g home
care today. I would not settle for a one-shot volume which would
stir up attention for a few weeks and then be forgotten. I <strong>in</strong>sisted
upon an <strong>in</strong>troductory summation of failures <strong>in</strong> Government policy.
Now, at scheduled <strong>in</strong>tervals, the subcommittee is issu<strong>in</strong>g reports
deal<strong>in</strong>g with specific, but complicated and important, subjects, such
as drug use and staff<strong>in</strong>g patterns <strong>in</strong> nurs<strong>in</strong>g homes.
And before our f<strong>in</strong>al report, I will <strong>in</strong>vite the U.S. Department of
Health Education, and Welfare and the nurs<strong>in</strong>g home <strong>in</strong>dustry to
submit rebuttal or commentary, which the subcommittee will then
pr<strong>in</strong>t.
We are <strong>in</strong>terested <strong>in</strong> communication, not denunciation. We want a
process to take place, and we want it to change the way th<strong>in</strong>gs are
done <strong>in</strong> the Nation's nurs<strong>in</strong>g homes.
Already, I th<strong>in</strong>k, I have detected a similar determ<strong>in</strong>ation at HEW,
and among certa<strong>in</strong> leaders <strong>in</strong> the nurs<strong>in</strong>g home <strong>in</strong>dustry. They realize,
I hope, that the people of the United States will no longer tolerate
damag<strong>in</strong>g, disgust<strong>in</strong>g, and degrad<strong>in</strong>g scandals and profiteer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>
<strong>in</strong>stitutions which, largely at public expense, supposedly give care
and k<strong>in</strong>dness to those people who are so completely <strong>in</strong> their hands.
I sense the same determ<strong>in</strong>ation among newspaper and television
reporters and editors who have had such a large role <strong>in</strong> br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g to
light many of the matters to be discussed here today.
I sense the same determ<strong>in</strong>ation among city officials, State legislators,
and the new Governor of this State. I sense. too, that the people
of New York-and of other States-are say<strong>in</strong>g: Enough; no more
apathy to costly abuses and ripoffs <strong>in</strong> nurs<strong>in</strong>g homes.
In short, the showdown so long delayed is now here. New York has
the opportunity to lead, as it has so often <strong>in</strong> the past, <strong>in</strong> establish<strong>in</strong>g
genu<strong>in</strong>e reform, and then <strong>in</strong>sist<strong>in</strong>g that the reforms stick. The Congress.
with help from leaders here and <strong>in</strong> other States, can <strong>in</strong>sist that
the tide now ris<strong>in</strong>g will sweep away scandal and shortcom<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> all
of the 50 States.