CA sues to revoke assisted living facility license

The California Department of Social Services has filed a lawsuitto revoke the license of Paragon Gardens, an assisted living facilitymanaged by the Oregon-based Sunwest Management, and to exclude some ofthe company’s executives from providing care and services to residentsof any facility licensed by the Department.  The state’s “more horrificallegations are that a dementia client left the facility unnoticed andwas never found, that staff members slept during their shift, that thefacility was infested with mice who left dropping in the client’s foodand that staff did not understand the meaning of incontinent care andwere unable to provide such care.”  Among other deficiencies the Statecited insufficient staff in June 2005, November 2005, January 2006,June 2006, and August 2006.  Sunwest Management is one of the largestmanagers of residential care facilities in the United States, withabout 150 facilities in 35 states, including 15 in California.  Aprivate class action lawsuit has also been filed against the managementcompany. 

Source/more: Assisted Living Consumer Alliance, http://www.assistedlivingconsumers.org/legal-library/news/digest.2007-02-12.5511199941