ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Senior abuse, particularly in nursing homes, is a growing concern in Annapolis.

Maryland averages 500 complaints a year, but a new bill being considered at the State House would crack down on this crime using undercover patients.

WBAL-TV 11 News reporter David Collin said these undercover agents would be senior citizens who will check themselves into the worst facilities to document abuse.

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David Collins Reports: Seniors Could Go Undercover

Experts point out a quiet epidemic of violence unfolding against some of our community's most vulnerable -- seniors who reside in nursing homes. The extent is often only discovered in the emergency room.

Republican Baltimore County Del. Wade Katch has come up with a unique way to combat this problem by using seniors as undercover agents and posing as patients.

"The way the bill is drafted, this could only occur in situations where nursing homes have already been cited," Katch said.

Collins said state records indicate that under this requirement, an undercover patient could have been used in 83 nursing homes last year.

"Obviously this is a very controversial issue," Katch said. "But the point I want to make is this is only geared to nursing homes where there have been serious violations already."

Collins said the bill allows the undercover seniors to be a Department of Health and Mental Hygiene employee. But the agency opposes this approach citing costs and duplication concerns.

Currently, the state Office of Health Care Quality inspects group and nursing homes once a year. The department advises using at least seven undercover patients that would cost the state $840,390.

The undercover seniors idea is reported working well in New Mexico.

Nursing homes oppose this legislation, as do some taxpayers who suggest making health care professionals report senior abuse like they do for children.

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