Nursing Home Safety Questioned

ABC 17 News is looking into how a Callaway County nursing home patient was able to walk away for several hours Monday.The middle-aged man walked out of the Riverview Nursing Center on Route C in Mokane. He was later found in a heavily-wood area less than five miles from the facility.Deputies say the man has medical issues but he was fine when he was found.When ABC 17 News tried to get answers Tuesday to determine if protocol was following and if the state was looking into the case, very few people were willing to take any responsibility.ABC 17’s Brad Johnson tried to talk with officials from Riverview Nursing Center, however he was told the manager was busy and then kicked off the home’s property.Johnson then attempted to get answers from the state’s Department of Health and Senior Services and to see if the agency is conducting any kind of investigation. He placed several calls into the department including the public information office, the director’s office, and the department’s lobbyist.ABC 17 News is still waiting for calls back from the taxpayer-funded state agencies. We’ll continue to look into whether or not the nursing home committed any violations or if the state takes action.