By Associated Press
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky has received a $3 million federal grant to bolster background checks of those applying for jobs to care for vulnerable populations such as the elderly.
Gov. Steve Beshear's office said Wednesday the grant will be used to purchase equipment for digital fingerprint background checks.
Beshear said the stronger background checks are a step up from background checks based on name only, and are part of efforts to crack down on elder abuse.
Last year, Beshear ordered the state to make changes to curb nursing home abuse. The effort came after a series of articles in the Lexington Herald-Leader found that only seven of 107 serious citations issued at Kentucky nursing homes in a three-year period were prosecuted as crimes.
There are 590 long-term care and 101 assisted living facilities in Kentucky.