Holtville assisted-living facility amasses complaints
HOLTVILLE — Final repairs to some residents’ rooms have yet to be completed at a Holtville assisted-living facility were mold was discovered in April, and which had prompted the in-house relocation of some residents.
Although the presence of any mold at the Blossom Valley Inn was removed completely by September, some residents’ rooms lack drywall and remain uninhabitable, said Javier Ortiz, Holtville building inspector.
The unfinished repairs reportedly stem from the facility owner’s decision to continue to seek additional quotes from additional subcontractors to finish the work.
Similar actions by the owner, Renato Baylon, had resulted in delays to the initial mold remediation efforts and repairs, Ortiz said.
“It’s been back and forth trying to get a contractor to finish the job,” he said. “None of the residents have been able to move back into their original rooms.”
A site inspection conducted by Ortiz in April had determined that 17 rooms at the facility had water damage and potential mold. Further laboratory testing subsequently determined the presence of mold in 10 of those rooms.
The assisted living facility currently houses 76 residents, a staff member said, although they were not certain how many total rooms are available at the facility for residents.
Until the repairs are completed, the city of Holtville is withholding the finalization of Blossom Valley Inn’s building permit, Ortiz said.
The discovery of the mold in April also prompted an investigation by the state Department of Social Services’ Community Care Licensing Division, which issued a citation in connection for the facility’s failure to maintain a safe and clean facility.
The agency’s investigation revealed that staff members were aware of the presence of mold at the facility for years, and that Baylon had failed to act on the staff’s information, according to a complaint investigation report found at the state Social Services Department’s website.
The agency’s investigation also revealed that ventilation fans in almost every resident’s bathroom were either inoperable or missing.
“By failing to ensure that the building was clean, had necessary bathroom ventilation fans, and in general good repair, mold was able to develop and grow into a potential health risk to residents,” the report stated.
Baylon did not respond to a request for comment. The report by state licensing program analyst Nicholas Walker also stated that the deficiency has since been addressed.
That report is but one of five complaint investigation reports released Nov. 28 by the state’s Community Care Licensing Division in response to allegations lodged against Blossom Valley Inn over the course of the year.
Those complaints alleged the facility did not regularly bathe residents, failed to provide adequate hygienic and grooming products, failed to provide first aid on one occasion, allowed unqualified staff to treat wounds and failed to provide timely medical care to a resident, resulting in the resident’s death.
The state Community Care Licensing Division determined that three of the five complaints were substantiated, including a Feb. 23 allegation that residents were being bathed infrequently.
“Although there was a consensus among residents that their showering has improved with the hiring of an additional staff, the facility is still failing to appropriately provide residents with assistance in maintaining adequate hygiene,” the Nov. 28 complaint investigation report stated.
A May 18 complaint alleging that unqualified staff were treating a resident’s pressure wound was also substantiated and resulted in a citation, the Nov. 28 report stated. That particular deficiency was also subsequently addressed.
A facility’s failure to correct cited deficiencies on or before the Plan of Correction due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
An April 25 complaint alleging that staff failed to provide first aid to a resident who was reportedly choking on food was also determined to be unsubstantiated as a result of conflicting reports from staff and residents.
“Since there was conflicting evidence found concerning the allegation and not substantial evidence to show that staff did not render first aid services, the complaint allegation is found to be unsubstantiated,” the investigation report stated.
Another unsubstantiated complaint involves the March 1 allegation that Blossom Valley Inn neglected to care for a resident who had fallen on two separate occasions and subsequently died.
“The evidence also shows that facility staff responded appropriately to (Resident 1) falling by calling emergency responders and having them sent out to the hospital for evaluation both times,” the Nov. 28 report stated. “There is not enough evidence to show that the cause of death or contributing factors in (Resident 1’s) death was a consequence of the facility staffs’ neglect and/or lack of supervision.”
Yet, an Aug. 11, 2017, complaint alleging neglect had contributed to a resident’s death was substantiated in February 2018.
In that instance, the state determined the facility could have done more to care for a resident whose health had deteriorated after having suffered multiple falls at the facility and who subsequently died on Aug. 2, 2017.
“Facility staff knowingly and willfully failed to appropriately respond to resident’s change in condition thereby allowing them to continuously fall and consequently suffer major bodily injuries that would ultimately contribute to their death,” the Feb. 28 report stated.