Missouri State Rep wants nursing home monitoring funding back in state budget

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Just last month, KMOX News gave listeners details about deplorable living conditions at a University City nursing home .

One resident showed us her bug-infested bedside table and talked about lack of personal care.

Funding for independent oversight of nursing homes was vetoed by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson for the second year in a row.

Missouri State Rep. Deb Lavender (D), who represents parts of St. Louis County which includes Manchester, Twin Oaks and Valley Park is pushing to that funding restored.

Lavender, who joined Total Information A.M. this week, say the funding that was worth a total of $2.5 million would allow organizations called ombudsman to investigate complaints from seniors at nursing homes.

"This $2.5 million would be a huge influx of money for them to hire additional staff to be able to better investigate the complaints that are coming through a regular basis," said Lavender.

According to Lavender, a local St. Louis ombudsman group called VOYCE received more than 800 complaints last year.

"That's 800 complaints from eastern part of Missouri. 21 counties including the city," said Lavender. "That is a lot. This money is necessary to address our senior needs."

Local ombudsman groups have told Lavender that they don't feel as able to do the job as they would like too.

"They are only able to get into facilities only two times a year for nursing homes and four times a year for skill care, slightly different facilities," said Lavender. "But they are actually having to deal with some of these complaints from our seniors over the phone because they can't get out there in person."

Lavender is hoping the legislature will agree to overturn the veto. Lavender will fight to get the funding restored during the legislature's veto session. she points out the state is currently sitting on $15 billion.