Jamaica Nursing Homes Registration Act: Updates & Key Changes

In 2004, Jamaica amended its Nursing Homes Registration Act, which dates back to 1934. The amendments address sanitation issues, staff-to-resident ratio and safety measures. According to Opposition party senator Dwight Nelson, who supported the bill, the number of people over 60 increased from 54,000 in 1950 to 267,000 in 2002. "So it behooves us to ensure ... that institutions which exist to provide care to the section of the population are in fact institutions which provide standards which are comparable anywhere...."

Registration

• Nursing homes in Jamaica must be registered. The fee is $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the size of the home. Certificates of registration are valid for two years from date of issue

Regulations

• The Minister may make regulations describing what patient records must be kept and how notifications of deaths are to be made. Regulations made by the Minister will have the same force as though they were part of this act and must be published in the "Gazette."

Inspection

• At all reasonable times, anyone authorized by the Minister may enter and inspect any nursing home premise and its records. Inspectors must issue a certificate of inspection to the owner or the operator of a nursing home within three days of inspection. Anyone who refuses to allow an inspector to do his job and anyone who obstructs an inspector is guilty of an offense against this act.