A group of Republican state senators is demanding answers after a top administrator was fired for blowing the whistle on a “toxic culture” at the state office that investigates abuse and neglect allegations at Minnesota senior care facilities. Senator Karin (CAR-in) Housley from Saint Mary’s Point says, “This is the office that is supposed to help families when something happens to one of their loved ones, guide our senior care facilities in their training and response to incidents, and this is the office that is supposed to report to local law enforcement to hold people accountable for their actions.” Dayton has a meeting scheduled today with Governor Mark Dayton. He has set up a special task force to address the issue.
The state Health Department says they’ve seen a “massive increase” in abuse and neglect allegations and are improving internal procedures, plus implementing stronger federal regulations on nursing homes which took effect in late November.