in safety and decency and to receive competent and respectful care that meets the requirements of State and federal law.

residents and to unnecessary nursing home resident deaths is a State and a community responsibility.

assaulted or dies unnecessarily, the response by the State and the community to the assault or death must include an accurate and complete determination of the cause of the assault or death and the development and implementation of measures to prevent future assaults or deaths from similar causes. The response may include court action, including prosecution of persons who may be responsible for the assault or death and proceedings to protect other residents of the facility where the resident lived, and disciplinary action against persons who failed to meet their professional responsibilities to the resident.

agencies who have responsibilities for nursing home residents and expertise that can promote resident safety and well-being should share their expertise and knowledge so that the goals of determining the causes of sexual assaults and unnecessary resident deaths, planning and providing services to surviving residents, and preventing future assaults and unnecessary deaths can be achieved.

causes of sexual assaults against nursing home residents and unnecessary nursing home resident deaths is necessary if the State is to prevent future assaults and unnecessary deaths.

sexual assaults against nursing home residents and unnecessary nursing home resident deaths can assist the State and counties in (i) investigating resident sexual assaults and deaths, (ii) developing a greater understanding of the incidence and causes of resident sexual assault and deaths and the methods for preventing those assaults and deaths, and (iii) identifying gaps in services to nursing home residents.

deceased nursing home residents by multi-disciplinary and multi-agency nursing home resident sexual assault and death review teams is necessary for those teams to fulfill their purposes and duties.