Mercer Times

The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs has agreed to a consent decree to enhance oversight at veterans' homes in the state. This move comes after a series of reforms initiated by Governor Murphy in 2021 aimed at improving conditions and management within these facilities.

In late 2022, Governor Murphy took additional steps by enlisting consulting and management support services from experts in long-term care. The goal was to expedite positive changes across all three veterans' homes in New Jersey.

The implemented reforms have led to several systemic changes. These include the introduction of full-time resident advocates, new electronic medical records systems, and a learning management system that has provided thousands of hours of training for both direct care and non-direct care staff. Additionally, wages for frontline healthcare workers have been increased to attract and retain qualified personnel.

The state's efforts are part of an ongoing commitment to improve the quality of care for veterans residing in these homes. The consent decree signifies an additional layer of oversight intended to ensure that these improvements continue effectively.