DAMON AS SHE APPROACHED THE
VEHICLE.
TODAY HENNEPIN COUNTY ATTORNEY
MIKE FREEMAN SAID HE IS STILL
INVESTIGATING AND DID NOT OFFER
A TIMELINE ON WHEN HE WILL MAKE
A DECISION.
REPORTS OF ABUSE ON SENIOR
CITIZENS AT CARE FACILITIES HAS
A GROUP DEMANDING ANSWERS.
THIS AFTERNOON THEY CALLED ON
HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS TO
EXPLAIN THE FAILURE OF
COMPLAINTS TO DO THEIR JOB.
INVESTIGATORS REPORT THAT
SENIOR CARE NEGLECT.
THIS HAS LED TO SOME DEATH.
IT HAS.
THIS IS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR
SINCE THIS PARTICULAR GROUP OF
SENATORS RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT
HOW THE STATE DEALS WITH
COMPLAINTS MADE BY PEOPLE WHO
BELIEVE THAT AN ELDERLY LOVED
ONE WAS MISTREATED OR ABUSED BY
LIVING IN A SENIOR CARE
FACILITY.
THEY NOW SAY A WHISTLEBLOWER
WITHIN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
WAS FIRED FOR EXPOSING WHAT IS
BROKEN IN THE SYSTEM.
MEANWHILE THEY SAY ELDERLY
VICTIMS ARE SUFFERING.
WHY ARE WE CONTINUING TO HEAR
ABOUT THE ABUSE, NEGLECT AND
HARM TO OUR SENIOR POPULATION?
SOME RESULTING IN
DEATH.REPORTER: STATE SENATOR
KARON HOUSLEY SAYS THERE HAS
BEEN A LOT OF TALK BUT NOTHING
IS HAPPENING.
SHE STOOD WITH STATE SENATORS
AND DESCRIBED A DYSFUNCTIONAL
OFFICE OF HEALTH FACILITY
COMPLAINTS.
WHY CAN'T THE OH HSE RETAIN
EMPLOYEES?
WHY ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS
GOING UNINVESTIGATED?
WHY ARE VULNERABLE ADULTS
UNPROTECTED?REPORTER: SHE
SAYS A WHISTLEBLOWER WAS FIRED
AFTER SHE SHED LIGHT ON WHY
INVESTIGATORS KEEP QUITTING
THEIR JOBS.
WHAT THIS WHISTLEBLOWER
UNCOVERED WAS A TOXIC CULTURE
OF BULLYING, INTIMIDATION AND
HARASSMENT AND COMPLETE
DISREGARD FOR OUTSIDE INPUT AND
NOBODY CARED.
REPORTER: 87-YEAR-OLD SHEILA
DIED AFTER SUFFERING A STROKE
IN HER ASSISTED CARE LIVING
FACILITY SEVEN YEARS AGO.
HER DAUGHTER BELIEVES THE DEATH
WAS A RESULT OF NEGLIGENCE AND
SHE HAS WORKED RELENTLESSLY TO
BRING ATTENTION FACING ELDER
CARE IN MINNESOTA.
I THINK THE FINE IS NURSE
SLAPS ON THE WRIST AND THERE IS
NO SIGNIFICANT PENALTY TO
REALLY CHANGE HOW WE DO THINGS.
REPORTER: SEVERAL MONTHS AGO
GOVERNOR DAYTON APPOINTED A
WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW THE
HEALTH DEPARTMENT OVERSIGHT OF
SENIOR CARE HOMES THAT ARE
LICENSED BY THE STATE.
MEANWHILE THE SENATOR SAYS SHE
IS WAITING FOR THE FINDINGS BY
THE INVESTIGATION OF THE
LICENSE OF THE AUDITOR.
SHE SAID IT WOULD BE TOLD IN
MARCH.
A LOT OF -- QUESTIONS AND
