Today NBC26 looks into allegations of patient neglect at the King veterans home near Waupaca. Just last week legislature started pushing for an audit of the facility and state leaders we're on board. But today we know the first time an audit was requested in writing was nearly a year ago, and that has some saying an audit should have happened sooner.
An exchange of emails between state Senator Julie Lassa and the Legislative Audit Committee started back in October of 2015. Senator Lassa wanted them to conduct an audit of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King immediately. Now, nearly a year later the committees co-chair agrees.
The Wisconsin Veterans Home at King received a 5 out of 5 star rating during its last inspection. That type of rating is only given out to about 15 percent of all nursing homes in the country. But not every former resident understands how King received the rating.
"I was disrespected by nurses, disrespected by CPN's and by CNA's," says Branden Brandenburg a retired member of the Coast Guard and former resident at King.
Staying there for nearly a year in 2015 Mr. Brandenburg says it's time for an audit.
"I've got about 10 Vet friends that are there that are afraid to come forward to say anything because they have fear of repercussions against them if they say anything and that tears my heart up," adds Brandenburg.
But others who lived there in that same time frame say the care was top notch.
"The CNA ladies, I would wonder how does God put women like this together to serve all of us," says Lambert Stone who now resides at a retirement community in Clintonville.
Stone says that waiting for nurse’s care, in the largest home in the state is part of business and doesn’t necessarily warrant an audit.
"Everybody thinks their needs come first," adds Stone.
Today Co-chairman Senator Cowles of the Audit Committee says he supports an audit but State Senator Lassa would like to see the state step aside and let the feds take it over.
