Golden Valley neglect case sparks push to ban assisted‑living ‘no touch’ policies
After a resident at a Golden Valley assisted‑living facility reportedly slowly suffocated while staff did not intervene, Minnesota advocates and lawmakers are pushing to curb “no lift”/“no touch” fall policies in assisted‑living homes. Proposed legislation — modeled on Arizona’s 2021 law and including increased staff training, funding for lift devices and a statutory duty of care — is being drafted in response to hundreds of 911 fall calls linked to such policies, though the assisted‑living industry is expected to oppose the reforms.
📌 Key Facts
- Advocates in Minnesota are drafting legislation to address or effectively ban 'no lift'/'no touch' fall policies in assisted‑living facilities, modeled in part on Arizona’s 2021 law.
- Wisconsin Rep. Lori Palmeri plans to introduce a legislative package to increase staff training, fund lift devices, and impose a statutory duty of care in assisted‑living settings.
- Rep. Palmeri’s push was prompted by her own mother’s fall and the widespread use of 'no touch' rules in some facilities.
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin, fire officials report more than 800 911 fall calls from assisted‑living facilities since 2020, many tied to policies instructing staff not to lift residents or perform CPR but to 'stand by' for EMS.
- The assisted‑living industry has fought similar reforms in other states, including opposing Arizona’s law, signaling an expected industry fight if Minnesota pursues restrictions on 'no lift'/'no touch' policies.
📊 Relevant Data
Nearly 80% of all injuries to professional caregivers are the result of lifting, pulling, pushing, or holding patients.
Best Practices for Caregiver Body Mechanics and Injury Prevention — 7dayhomecare.com
In a 2025 study, 39.4% of formal caregivers in private residential and nursing homes suffered work-related musculoskeletal injuries in a 6-month period, and 71.9% reported injuries in the last 12 months.
In 2023, the unintentional fall death rate among adults aged 85 and older was 395.5 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic White adults, 123.9 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic Black adults, 179.2 per 100,000 for Hispanic adults, 174.3 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic Asian adults, and 202.3 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native adults.
About 88% of assisted living residents in the US identify as non-Hispanic White, compared to approximately 75% of the population aged 65 and older who are non-Hispanic White.
In 2023, 27.8% of adults aged 65 and older reported falling in the past 12 months.
Explore Falls - Age 65+ in the United States | AHR — America's Health Rankings
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Advocates for the elderly in Minnesota are drafting legislation to address or effectively ban 'no lift'/'no touch' fall policies in assisted living facilities, modeled in part on Arizona’s 2021 law.
- Wisconsin Rep. Lori Palmeri plans to introduce a legislative package to increase staff training, fund lift devices, and impose a statutory duty of care, after her own mother’s fall and widespread use of 'no touch' rules.
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin fire officials report more than 800 911 fall calls from assisted-living facilities since 2020, many tied to policies instructing staff not to lift residents or even perform CPR but simply to "stand by" for EMS.
- The assisted-living industry has fought similar reforms in other states, including opposing Arizona’s law that effectively bans 'no lift' policies, signaling an expected industry fight in Minnesota.