Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As someone with aging loved ones and who has cared for family members, the well-being of seniors and vulnerable adults is an issue near to my heart. The Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released a report on Tuesday, sharing more about what went wrong with the Office of the Health Facility Complaints (OHFC), and why they weren’t protecting and investigating the maltreatment of vulnerable and aging adults as they should. As Minnesotans hear these stories or experience the problems firsthand, they are rightly outraged. We have to make changes in the Legislature and in state government.
The OLA Report was the last critical piece we were waiting for as we examine how we can move forward. The report provided more detail about what went wrong and why so many of these abuse maltreatment allegation reports weren’t handled correctly. It showed the complicated and archaic process that the OHFC has and where there were significant lapses in our system. While the OLA report was thorough and did a deep-dive into what went wrong, the biggest take away is that OFHC did not meet their duties to protect vulnerable adults.
Taking care of our vulnerable adults and handling maltreatment reports in a timely manner can be the difference between life and death. There have already been a number of steps in the right direction taken in the past several months, but we need to do more.
In the House, I have introduced two bills that strengthen our laws around maltreatment reporting and form a number of working groups that engage legislators, seniors, families and stakeholders to look at what comprehensive reforms we can make.
As we move forward, our response will be centered on three key principles: Transparency, Accountability, and Prevention.
On transparency, we need simple, clear, and consistent processes for how complaints are made, handled, and responded to. Seniors and their families need to have confidence in knowing how the system works, what their rights are, and what they can do in the event of mistreatment.On accountability, we need to look at strengthening laws and penalties around mistreatment if current laws are insufficient to dissuade this behavior. And finally and most importantly for prevention, we need strategies in place to prevent abuse from happening in the first place. We need families to have confidence in the system, and for seniors to feel safe when they are receiving care.
This is going to be an ongoing discussion as session continues. I wish we could have this problem solved today, but by taking a real look at the root of the problems, gathering input from stakeholders and determining the best course of action forward, I believe we can make meaningful changes and real improvement—because that’s what our loved ones and their families rightly expect and deserve. As Chair of the Subcommittee on Aging and Long-Term Care, this will be the one of the top issues I work on for the remainder of the session.
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It’s an honor and privilege to work for you at the Capitol. Don’t hesitate to contact my office at any time this session to share your thoughts, concerns or ideas. I am here to serve you!
Sincerely,
Deb
**Encourage your neighbors and friends to sign up for my email updates at www.house.mn/01B