Families and advocates are calling on the Minnesota Legislature to make assisted living facilities provide the services they pay for. By James Walsh The Minnesota Star Tribune MN assisted living facilities not honoring contracts, families say Richard Thomalla’s room in a memory care unit in North St. Paul costs more than $12,000 a month, his daughter Laura DeGree said. For that, she expected he would receive the compassionate, attentive and quality care promised on the facili

In Minnesota, if an elderly person dies as a result of neglect or abuse in a long-term care facility, the maximum fine is just $5,000. Meanwhile, animal cruelty can result in up to two years in prison, a $5,000–$10,000 fine, and restitution for the cost of care. This indifference to the suffering—and needless deaths—of older adults is commonplace in far too many long-term care facilities, as this research demonstrates. Elder Voice Advocates (EVA) and others successfully worke

View Article by Vincent Miles February 12, 2026 The specter of armed agents walking past residents in wheelchairs, demanding papers from staff in the middle of a shift, is no longer a dystopian fiction — it is a plausible Tuesday. A still image taken from video shot by neighbor Kristi Nelson shows St. Paul resident ChongLy Scott Thao being escorted out of his home on Jan. 18, 2026, by ICE agents who detained him for an hour. Thao, who is a U.S. citizen, was not their intended

A New Era of Transparency, Accountability, and Justice in Elder Care In 2025, Elder Voice Advocates (EVA) reached a defining moment in its mission to transform elder care. Through bold advocacy, strategic partnerships, and major investments in innovation, EVA expanded its reach and strengthened its role as a national leader in elder justice, transparency, and accountability. At the heart of this progress is Elder Care IQ , EVA’s groundbreaking public information platform that

By Nancy Haugen, RN, MS, PHN SENIOR LIVING GUIDE 2026 Making decisions about senior living and long-term care—whether for yourself or someone you care for—can feel overwhelming. These choices often require balancing independence, safety, personal values, relationships, and quality of life within a complex systems of care. This guide is designed to support informed, confident decision-making at every stage—whether you are planning ahead, actively exploring options, or advocati

Get stakeholder perspectives on the move from the Waiver Reimagine Advisory Committee (WRAC) to the Waiver Reimagine Advisory Task Force (WRATF)!

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Advisory Task Force on Waiver Reimagine  will hold its next meeting on December 18 , and we strongly encourage community members and stakeholders to participate. 📍 Updated Meeting Location Please note the new venue  for the in-person session: Eagan Community Center 501 Central Parkway Eagan, MN 55121 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM This change ensures a larger, more accessible space for attendees who wish to join in person. 🖥️ Virtual Atte

Assisted living facilities are implementing a "no touch" policy, directing staff to instead call 911. Kris Sundberg speaks on behalf of families who suffer as a result of these policies. Refusing to pick up fallen elderly residents | FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul

Give to the Max Day: November 20, 2025 Since 2009, Give to the Max Day has united Minnesotans in generosity, raising millions to strengthen our communities. This year, we’re asking you to stand with Elder Voice Advocates. Don’t Let Another Family Suffer: Stand Up for Minnesota Seniors Last month in Minnesota, two seniors died from medication errors. Two others were sexually assaulted while in care facilities. These are not isolated incidents—they reveal a system still failing

Missed the event, but not your chance to make a difference On October 21, Wooden Hill Brewing in Edina was buzzing! Friends, families, and caregivers filled the taproom, united to ensure that older adults and people with disabilities in Minnesota receive the protection and dignity they deserve. We ate, drank, and swapped stories. Raffles, laughter, and real generosity fueled the night, all to support EVA. Every dollar raised is a building block for stronger laws—and this mo

Pints with Purpose Fundraising Event at Wooden Hill Brewing Foundations can’t fund advocacy. Only people like you can. Minnesota’s older adults and people with disabilities are facing unprecedented threats. Proposed budget cuts and industry-backed rollbacks would weaken oversight of nursing homes and assisted living facilities — leaving residents even more vulnerable in a system already plagued by neglect and abuse. Here’s the truth: Foundation money cannot be used to fight

On Sept. 7, 2025, the Rochester Post Bulletin profiled Julie Clennon, an activities director at a Rochester senior living community and...

The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump in July, will have significant implications...

The Minnesota legislature passed a number of provisions affecting Long Term Care in their Health & Human Services budget bills last...

Elder Voice Advocates has been given the authority to appoint one person to the Long-Term Services and Supports Advisory Council. We are...

Deanne "Soup" Lynn Dibble West We are proud to recognize Deanna Lynn Dibble West as our inaugural Care Extraordinaire—a title honoring...

ACT's 3rd Annual Disability Pride Festival There were sunny skies and a strong turnout for ACT’s 3rd Annual Disability Pride Festival on...

Looming projected budget deficits for the State of Minnesota prompted lawmakers to make significant budget cuts across the board....

Healthy Aging Subcabinet and State Aging Plan With the support and assistance of Elder Voice, Minnesota enacted legislation to establish...

Minneapolis, MN (April 29, 2025) Elder Voice Advocates (EVA) proudly announces it has received an $840,000 grant from the Bush...