Retirement home had bad bed bugs. It’s closing, but could residents wind up somewhere worse?
But it's not
Instead, longtime owners and operators Rick and
The future home for many residents was less clear, which is common in a strained state mental health care system that critics say perpetually struggles to meet rising costs and demands.
"Facilities will just kind of send people out and that is inappropriate," said
Earlier this month, several of the residents, who did not want to give their names, said they were confused and worried about where they might wind up. On one day, one elderly woman sat on the lobby stairs, chin resting in her hands, her possessions stuffed in four black trash bags by the front door as other residents shambled about with their own bags and boxes.
"Where are you sending me?" she asked. A woman who appeared to be a staffer from another ALF told her she would be going to a place she would enjoy. The elderly woman dragged her garbage sacks to a car outside and sat waiting. Other residents -- who could frequently be found walking the streets surrounding the ALF -- expressed similar concerns.
"I'm glad I'm leaving here," said one. "But I'm not happy about where I'm going."
Residents had learned they'd be losing their home in an abrupt manner. In late September, the owners handed out "Dear Resident" letters, citing a lease expiring on
That last statement was wrong, according to
"As required by their licensure with the agency, the assisted living facility is responsible for relocating residents and must work with the residents or their representatives to ensure a safe relocation,"
Manderfield said that other agencies, such as the
Manderfield said
"I haven't heard any residents calling," Freyre said. "That's usually how we know."
"They (the ombudsman) are paid for by taxpayers to fulfill that role as an advocate," said Lee, a former long-term care ombudsman. "That's their job. Too many facilities just kind of run roughshod over residents and their rights."
Another agency, the
Despite the initial uncertainty, the retirement home emptied out over the month. The ring of chairs outside the two-story home's entrance, normally a popular gathering spot for residents to talk or smoke, was almost empty, with only one woman sitting there late last week. She said she did not want to speak to a reporter. By Monday, DCF and
Whether they wound up somewhere better is another question. Medical and mental health privacy laws make it impossible for outside advocates to track where residents wind up or what options they might have. But it can be difficult for residents or their families to research choices on their own.
"The choice is going to be limited," said Lee, the elderly care advocate. "They are probably going to be shuttled out to other counties to get the services they need. And they are not going to be able to have the selection of quality."
Most of the beds in
After the Herald asked about vacancies at places that might take in the retirement home's residents, the previously available occupancy on
She added: "While the agency does not routinely track available beds, our agency is focused on ensuring that residents who have decided to reside in an assisted living facility with a limited mental health license have access to a safe and clean environment, and that their health and well-being are monitored."
Years of reports exposed persistent problems: The facility failed to ensure that residents were receiving their scheduled medications, did not keep proper medical records and potentially falsified documentation, according to inspection reports. It was staffed with untrained employees and lacked proper food, among other citations.
The living conditions also were subpar, according to the reports. Paint peeled and plaster flaked on the walls, mold-like black stains formed on air conditioning vents, and there was a "foul odor that exists in and throughout the facility."
Bed bug droppings covered mattresses, stained linens, encrusted walls and windows, and one of the insects was observed crawling up the leg of a resident, a report from this year stated. Employees of a pest control company working to eradicate the infestation called it "the worst ever seen" in all of their years of work. The facility had been under review from the
In communication with
But records show the Heaths own the corporation that holds the lease and the property.
The area surrounding the home, near the busy corner of
At least one former resident, a man in his late 50s named Jessie, told the Herald by phone he had been recently relocated to a new facility in
"They said they had real food here," Jessie said. "I wouldn't eat it at the other place. It was disgusting."
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