Officials Substantiate Cases of Nursing Home Abuse

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - State health officials have substantiated cases of abuse at several nursing homes in Minnesota.

A report released Tuesday says a nursing aide was fired in April for injuring a patient's genitals at a facility operated by Minnesota Heritage House in Stearns County. The nursing home notified the state about the abuse.

In another case, a resident suffered burns from a hot pack in a case the state substantiated at Foley Nursing Center in Benton County. Center spokeswoman Krisin Rucks says the employee has been retrained.

In a third case, health officials substantiated a case in which a resident of Laurel Peak Rehabilitation Center in Mankato broke three toes when her foot was bumped while being pushed in a wheelchair by an aide. The center's administrator did not immediately comment.

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