The Office of Health Facility Complaints (OHFC) has made great strides in reducing the backlog of maltreatment complaints from seniors and vulnerable adults in care centers and senior living settings. 

At the start of this year, there were 3,147 reports of maltreatment that needed to be reviewed or investigated. An intense triage effort by OHFC has significantly reduced the backlog. As of this week, there were 712 complaints that still need to be resolved. 

In a joint statement, Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm and Chuck Johnson, acting Human Services Commissioner, said the departments have made important and urgently needed progress, particularly with regard to reducing the case backlog. 

“We have more work ahead to further improve OHFC processes, and to ensure that the state is effectively triaging, investigating and ensuring accountability in reported cases of elder abuse and neglect,” they said.