It’s unusual for an advocacy group to speak out directly against state officials. Calls for more inspectors, more funding, and more regulations are normal issues for elder advocates.
But the situation in Oklahoma has been getting a lot of attention precisely because it’s different. The group, called A Perfect Cause, is calling for the resignation or termination of several state employees including the Director of the Department of Health Services and the State Secretary of Health.
The supporters of A Perfect Cause say investigations of abuse and neglect take months to investigate, and in many cases, family members of the victims are not even interviewed. State officials don’t dispute the specifics.
Any group that supports increased awareness of nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect issues is worthy of support. I hope that the focus of their protest is appropriate. Some of the complaints of the group, that nursing home inspectors don’t accept photographic evidence for example, is probably more a result of state regulations than decision-making by the nursing home inspectors office.
Regardless, raising awareness of nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect, along with the civil court system, is one of the few ways that families of nursing home neglect and nursing home abuse victims can combat the growing epidemic.
If you have a loved one in a Chicago area nursing home, and you feel they have been the victim of nursing home abuse or nursing home neglect, contact the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.