Minnesota saw more than 25,000 allegations of neglect, abuse, unexplained serious injuries, and thefts in one year in state-licensed nursing homes. Despite broad authority by the state Health Department to intervene, including ordering corrective measures such as better staff training, fines, or even revocation of the facility's license—as well as a state law requiring the health department to notify prosecuting authorities of evidence of abuse—the state Health Department rarely takes action. It didn't investigate 97 percent of these allegations. Investigations can drag on for months while fines go uncollected and abuse continues.
Families are often unaware of the abuse and neglect of their loved ones and must report suspected abuse themselves. It can be difficult to determine if the changes they see in their loved one’s overall health and behavior are due to the aging process or if they are evidence of neglect and abuse. Family members complain that the state does not inform them when an investigation involving the mistreatment of their loved one occurs or will not keep them updated on the investigation results.