Relatives Speaking Out about Nursing Home Abuse

Outraged relatives of nursing home residents took their stories to the State Capitol. They're speaking out on behalf of their loves ones who they say suffered abuse by caretakers.

Monday, April 13th 2009, 6:49 pm

By: News 9


By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Outraged relatives of nursing home residents took their stories to the State Capitol. They're speaking out on behalf of their loves ones who they say suffered abuse by caretakers.

Representative Richard Morrissette held a meeting MOnday --in honor of Senior Day at the Capitol. He said these claims and complaints have fallen on deaf ears and he wanted to give those victims a voice.

The pictures, the undercover tape and the tearful accounts seem to confirm what Representative Richard Morrissette and activist Wes Bledsoe long suspected.

"We have people, seniors that have been abused, people have died, stroke victims. And apparently the state legislature, which I'm a part of, have refused to address this issue," Rep. Morrissette said.

This is all despite Wes Bledsoe taking information public about the state of Oklahoma's elder care. None of the stories told Monday are unfamiliar to Bledsoe. His grandmother died in a nursing home eight years ago from what he says was abuse.

"They continue to say that these are anomalies, that these are rare exceptions whenever something occurs in a facility, and unfortunately that is untrue," said Wes Bledsoe, with A Perfect Cause.

"I don't think that's true. I really don't know where he's coming up with that data. The standards are the same nationwide and we all strive to meet it," said Becky Moore, the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Association of Health Care Providers.

Moore said her organization provides extensive training in care and in detecting abuse. Still she admits there are problems.

"Sometimes there's bad apples. Nobody likes it. And we'd like to make sure that nothing happens, even one case of abuse is serious in our minds," Moore said.

Bledsoe said he will continue his push to change how Oklahoma nursing homes are ranked and run.

"I hope the legislators will wake up. I hope the public will wake up. I hope the regulatory agencies will wake up and they will take action," Bledsoe said.

Moore said nursing homes are doing the best they can amid Medicaid cuts and mounting health care costs.

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