Horror stories behind push for more vulnerable care oversight

Debbie Singer turned on the lights in her mother’s room to find her dead, with two day’s worth of mail outside, blood stains and a distinct odor inside.

“She clearly did not die peacefully,” Singer said.   

Staff at the assisted living facility had failed to perform the promised daily checks to make sure Singer’s mother was OK.

Singer, a veterinarian, said pets are treated better than elder adults.

Her story was only one of several gut-wrenching tales told Wednesday to the House Subcommittee on Aging and Long-Term Care about abuse and broken promises at assisted living facilities and nursing homes. To address abuse like that suffered by Singer’s mom, a consumer work group ordered by Gov. Mark Dayton in November 2017 has identified areas where laws need to be strengthened.

The subcommittee took no action.

The work group found Minnesota to be the only state that does not have a license system for assisted living facilities. Instituting licensing for them, and a certification system for providing memory care to people with dementia, are strongly recommended by the working group.

Mary Jo George, associate state director of AARP Minnesota, said the group’s recommendations are part of HF3468, sponsored by Rep. Liz Olson (DFL-Duluth). Along with requiring licensing, the bill would expand Minnesota’s patient bill of rights to better cover those living in long-term care facilities. It would also allow residents and their families to place cameras in a resident’s room to monitor their care.

Chad Turcotte, a sergeant with the Pequot Lakes Police Department, testified that law enforcement struggles to handle elder abuse cases that come to them. He agreed with the group’s idea to get rid of survivorship law that prevents family members from continuing a suit after the death of a vulnerable adult who is the plaintiff.

Rep. Debra Kiel (R-Crookston), chair of the subcommittee, said despite the fact her group is planning to wrap up its work for the session, there would be a several bills heard Thursday in the House Health and Human Services Reform Committee on the subject of vulnerable adult abuse.  

One of them, the Kiel-sponsored HF3308, would set up more working groups to further study specific ways to combat abuse.   

Kiel closed the meeting by emphasizing the need to value life, no matter what stage it’s in. She also asked for patience as lawmakers dealt with the many facets of the issue.

“This is a … huge problem, it’s got tentacles everywhere,” she said.