DHS: Investigation fails to substantiate abuse complaints at Lawton Veterans Center

Sep. 1--An investigation by the Oklahoma Department of Human Services advocate general's office into a multitude of complaints of abuse and neglect at the Lawton/Fort Sill Veterans Center failed to substantiate any of the allegations, a spokeswoman for the agency said Monday.

Exactly what investigators found remains a mystery, however, because agency officials are refusing to publicly release a copy of its report.

"Oh, my gosh. That's awful. I figured they were going to try to sweep it under the rug," said Sue Forbis, who complained her husband, U.S. Army veteran Danney Forbis, 83, has been taken to the hospital three times since mid-March because of poor care at the veterans center.

She said the first two times were for serious infections he developed after being left sitting in his wheelchair in feces for prolonged periods of time. The last time he also had severe blood clots in his legs, she said.

Brian Bohn said he was "shocked" by the agency's failure to confirm complaints of abuse.

Bohn said veterans center employees waited more than six hours to call an ambulance after they discovered his 82-year-old father was displaying classic signs of a stroke, including a drooping face. Bohn said when his father arrived at the hospital his scalp had "huge, pus-crusted wounds" and his adult diaper was saturated with urine and feces.

"They've been given a ton of evidence," Bohn said, claiming investigators would have confirmed abuse if they weren't "covering something up."

DHS spokeswoman Keili McEwen said the agency's report will not be publicly released.

"Under the adult protective services for vulnerable adults statute, we believe that there is enough confidential information regarding the individuals who were investigated and the allegations that this is a statutorily protected report," she said. "The only way that we would release it is under court order."

"I can share with you that we did not substantiate any of the allegations," she said, adding that a copy of the report will be presented to the Comanche County district attorney as required by statute.

"This was a large-scale investigation into numerous allegations," Joe Dewey, advocate general at OKDHS, said in a prepared statement released by the state Senate. "I am proud of the quality of work our team undertook in a few short weeks and that we were able to provide a final report for the families and residents of the Lawton Veterans Center."

State Sen. Paul Rosino, chair of the Legislative Veterans Caucus, issued a statement Monday saying he felt the "independent investigation" by an outside agency was critical.

Sen. Rosino said long-term care facilities were stressed with workforce issues prior to COVID-19, and those issues have been exacerbated by the pandemic.

"Families are missing quality interactions that are vital to the mental and physical health of seniors in these facilities," Rosino said. "I am grateful to the Advocate General and his team for digging into these allegations thoroughly and in a timely manner to give us a clear picture regarding the operations of the Lawton center."

Joe Kintsel, executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, said caring for veterans is the agency's "highest priority" and expressed gratitude to DHS for conducting the investigation.

However, the families of veterans who made the complaints were livid and vowed to continue fighting until problems get acknowledged and fixed.

"I can't believe it," Forbis said. "With all the pictures that I have? It's not right. I'm calling (Washington) D.C. I'm going higher."

Forbis and Fran Gibbs, the wife of another veteran who contends her husband was abused at the center, both said they have also provided information to the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office, which is conducting a separate inquiry.

Alex Gerszewski, spokesman for Attorney General Mike Hunter, confirmed his agency has received complaints.

"We're looking into it like any other case that we receive complaints on," he said.

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