Calling for Special Session to Address Elder Abuse

Expressing disappointment over Governor Dayton's veto of the supplemental budget bill, which included the Elder Care and Vulnerable Adult Protection Act, Senator Karin Housley, chair of the Senate Aging and Long-Term Care Committee, called upon Governor Dayton to convene a special session on addressing elder abuse in Minnesota's care facilities. Housley spoke to the media Wednesday, May 30, outside the governor's office.

"I'm calling on the governor to call a special session to pass this single issue bill in taking care of our vulnerable adults here in the state of MInnesota," Housley said. Some of the provisions that would be allowed under the plan, she explained, include allowing cameras to be placed in nursing home rooms; providing funds for a Department of Health case management system handling allegations of abuse; allowing care providers to be fined when neglect or abuse is determined; and providing funding for the hiring of long-term care ombudsmen.

Corey Tanner, who actively pushed for an investigation into his mother's care, said, "I just think right now this is so important at this time...everyone is going to be in this stage at one time, so now is the time to do it. There's so much focus on it. Please don't let all of this hard work that we've put into this...get this done. Now is the time."