Woman upset as dying mother forced out of apartment

A Vermilion woman is upset after her mother, who’s under in-home hospice care, was served an eviction notice and now is being forced out of her home because the property manager has decided not to renew her lease which ends next month.

Sandy Jones said she is frustrated, overwhelmed and horrified how her 78-year-old mother, Peggy Karnes, is being treated by the rental property management team who made the decision not to renew her lease.

Tina Berendsen manages Crystal Shores Community Apartments, on Salem Drive in Vermilion.

Berendsen is employed by S&P Management Inc. in Pepper Pike.

Berendsen confirmed she advised Jones that the management company decided against renewing Karnes’ lease which ends April 30.

When asked if Berendsen was “forcing” Karnes out of the complex, she replied, “Nope. Their lease ends on April 30 and we’re just not renewing the lease.”

When asked why the decision of nonrenewal was made, Berendsen said, “We don’t have to give a reason for that. We just decided not to renew their lease.”

Meanwhile, Jones said her mother’s health has been declining rapidly as she suffers from Parkinson’s disease which first ended up in her having to utilize a walker, then a wheelchair to now, she’s confined to her bed.

Sitting next to Karnes’ bed about three feet away from her is a bucket filled with brown water because the roof is leaking, Jones said.

The leak started in January and Jones said she was advised by the management company to place a bucket under the leak.

Since then, other leaks have cropped up and more buckets are collecting the brown water, she said.

“This has just been horrible,” Jones said March 17 as she was emptying buckets for them to be refilled as rain persisted throughout the day. “What is she being exposed to by this brown water?

“I’d hate for her to die from some fungus in the water or mold in the walls.”

Jones, who resides in Sandusky, said she stays with her mother most of the time and hospice nurses come in four times a week to help her with Karnes’ care.

Jones said representatives from hospice have advocated for the family, however, the management company refuses to acknowledge them.

Making matters worse, Jones said all of her family members have died and she is left alone to deal with the pain of watching her mother’s health struggles, and now, the “unfair treatment” by the property manager.

“I don’t have anyone to turn to; I don’t know what to do,” she said “Like, wow, how am I even supposed to move her?”

Jones said she’s now faced with transporting her mother elsewhere.

“I’m watching her die slowly, and then I have this to deal with,” she said. “I think we’ve been treated very unfairly.”

City responds

Vermilion city officials jumped to action after hearing about the ladies’ plight March 17.

Vermilion Mayor Jim Forthofer said he called the Erie County Health commissioner who recommended that the Jones reach out to Serving Our Seniors, an agency that advocates on behalf of seniors in need.

“I think Serving our Seniors is an excellent resource,” Forthofer. “I will continue to inquire about resources that may be able to help.”

Additionally, the city is researching whether any other complaints have been leveled against the property, the mayor said.

Forthofer estimates the probe will be complete within a few days.

SUBMITTED Sandy Jones and her mother, Peggy Karnes, are pictured during one of the last times Karnes was able to stand due to her failing health on Dec. 25, 2021.