| Contact information: | Please tell us who you are and give us a way to contact you. We will not share your information. |
|---|---|
| Date Created | March 1, 2024 |
| First Name | Laurie Benson |
| Email OR Phone Number | latb@frontiernet.net |
| Zip Code (we want to match where you live with your members of Congress) | 55044 |
| Tell us a little about yourself or your loved one: | |
| Q1: What was your situation when you or your loved one first started experiencing elder abuse, neglect, and/or fraud? (What was your/their living situation like, were you/they struggling with any health issues, etc.?) | It wasn't after COVID that we really started to experience the difficulties that Mom was going to undergo at Catholic Elder Care in Mpls, MN. Mom had broken her left hip and was no longer able to go home. There were some good aides but after Covid many left because they could get paid by staying home. We lost some really good aides. We did have aides that were white but they soon left because working with the blacks from Africa became impossible. If you didn't go along with them and what they said and did then when you wanted help from them they wouldn't show up when you called for assistance. A couple of aides got paid from a family member who said, "if you make sure his clothes are in good shape, his shoes shined, hair combed and cleaned physically" I will make it worthwhile for you. they accepted the cash. Many of us were yelled at by the aides, told to mind our own business, and to quit complaining. Your Mom isn't the only one here you know!! Very rude--and the nurse mngr of the 1st floor did very little to change the outcomes. She was a friend to the aides, not a manager. I went round and round with these people enlisted the ombudsman, called the Office of Facility Complaints and the MN Deot of Health. When they checked out the laundry facilities operated by the Somalis, they told me, "can't tell you everything Laurie but I can say this," that place leaves alot to be desired". We finally put a camera in the room and boy do we have pictures to tell a horrid story. Some I shared with the nurse manager and when she herself saw what a couple of things were done she was amazed and angry. But did she really do anything about it, not really! And, when you are white and you are aware of the things that are going on and you try to fix it and a family member is there every day for 7 1/2 you are blacklisted and they can make you life miserable. I saw a PhD person talk about racim in the nursing homes and it is alive and well. Not understanding the language, no meaningful interaction between you and the aide, waiting for things to change, even get a little better and having the Dir of nurses and the Director of nursing activities write you accusing letters that are false is no way to spend your time at a place that insists they are specialized care nurses with your parent's best interests in mind. I cannot say that the nursing homes in MN are the place to be.....the blacks are from another country and are only here to get pd, go back to Africa for 1 month vacation and finally move back with a house bought and can live a better life than their own counterparts in their country of origin. There are no longer a sizeable number of whites working at Catholic Elder Care unless they have office jobs. A very sad place. |
| Q2: What would you like to share about your story? | That it is a shameful, exhaustive, place to live in when the care and concern of the elderly is abused. It was this generation that saved our country from Communism and made it a place for migrants to come to work so they could have a better life as well and to see them be treated as they are by the black aides is horrible and it needs to stop - the aides need to be fired. Their attitude, their lack of concern for the elderly, and their lack of understanding of where they actually are is frightening. Sincerely, |
| Q3: What do you wish people knew about elder abuse, neglect, and fraud? | That it happens all the time, everywhere, and very little or nothing is done about it. 71/2 years is too much to take when you know your parent is going through this and that they are afraid to say anything. Unless you are a highly concerned person for your elderly parent or family member many things will happen that you will need to bring to light and you will be ignored or told that they are looking into it and nothing will change.. YOU, will become the enemy! |
| Q4: What are your hopes for the future? | I still see a lot of talk and very little action with our supposed informed leaders in government and now with the fact that I am 73 and am starting to develop my own physical limitations I will pray that I do not have to be in a nursing home - anywhere! Thank you for this opportunity. I am mourning the loss of my mother. We buried her on Tuesday. She was 103 1/2. Thank you for this opportunity |
| Can our staff follow up with you about your story? | Yes |
| Are you interested in sharing your story further? (We can contact you about speaking with local media, elected officials, or recording your story for a video or podcast) | Yes |
| Can we use your name in telling your story? | Yes |
| Is there anything else you would like to add? | My son, Tom is also an advocate for the elderly and has pushed the limits of kindness for those who were less than adequate in caring for his grandmother. I will ask if he is interested in doing something for the elderly at this time. We are still pretty fresh in our loss. But, maybe it would be a good thing to concentrate on to assist us in our bereavement. Thank you for this opportunity Laurie Benson |