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JACKSON COUNTY Neglect, fraud, abuse shutter 4 adult foster homes in Jackson County Four adult foster homes shut down this spring after posing risk to clients Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jun. 1, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jun. 1, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Four adult foster care homes have been shut down this spring in Jackson County — including a home that accepted $4,108 per month in extra Medicaid funds to care for a quadriplegic and other patients but didn't hire needed caregivers. "It is very uncommon for adult foster homes to be immediately shut down," said Oregon Department of Human Services Director Ashley Carson-Cottingham, noting there have been only 12 homes shut down statewide this year. Ashley Carson-Cottingham said the agency normally works with providers to help them achieve compliance with regulations. However, DHS will shut down homes that pose a risk to clients, don't operate according to regulations or show evidence of abuse, neglect or exploitation of residents, according to license suspension notices sent to the four local homes. DHS officials said the four homes remain shut down. Mail Tribune phone calls to the four homes either went unanswered after numerous rings or phone numbers were disconnected. In-person visits to the homes revealed no patients or caregivers at the sites. During an unannounced April visit at a Medford adult foster care home on Northcrest Circle, an inspector caught only one caregiver working at the home, even though two caregivers were required at all times because of the high needs of its four residents, including a quadriplegic. Licensee Francis Simbulan was receiving base Medicaid funding to care for the residents, plus an extra $4,108 per month to hire additional caregivers to care for the greater needs of two clients in particular, according to an inspection report. The residents needed help with getting in and out of bed, repositioning, showering and sponge baths, incontinence and toileting needs, feeding and dressing. One resident reported having a tender, red tailbone area despite the home receiving extra money for caregivers to help with repositioning to prevent bed sores and other pressure injuries. Not enough caregivers were working to evacuate residents in case of a fire, and the home fabricated information about a March fire drill, inflating the number of caregivers present, the report said. A Central Point home on Marilee Street licensed to Apa Pritchard had been the subject of multiple Adult Protective Services investigations over the past three years, according to DHS. "These reports have substantiated wrongdoing for neglect of resident care, emotional/verbal abuse, and failure to maintain a safe medication administration system," an inspection report said. A new inspection uncovered more than two dozen problems, including the verbal abuse of a resident and caregivers' failure to empty a resident's catheter bag regularly and provide proper catheter care. The licensee failed to have qualified caregivers working in the home, failed to lock resident medications, didn't conduct enough fire drills, did not screen caregivers to see whether they were on a federal exclusion list or had committed past abuse and failed to administer medications as prescribed. Ants were also found in the home. Another home licensed to Apa Pritchard on Mace Road in Medford also had dozens of violations, according to an inspection report. The home had an unsafe medication administration system, improperly stored medical sharps in a den where residents watched television and had a private pay contract with a resident for whom the home was already receiving Medicaid payments. The licensee was not allowed to request or accept additional funds from a Medicaid client. An inspector also found a cracked ceiling fixture that was in danger of falling on those below, among other violations. At the fourth home that was shut down, an inspector found dirty walls and carpet, a dirty bathroom, a sticky floor, a urine odor, a broken window, on overflowing container of soiled incontinence garments and an inoperable fire alarm with the battery removed. A March inspection found temperatures in the residents' rooms were in the low 60s at the Medford home on Seckel Street licensed to Christina Viray. Residents were left alone with a substitute caregiver who was unable to care for them and the home had a history of multiple past instances of unqualified caregivers. Carson-Cottingham said she doesn't know what may be contributing to the rash of home shut-downs in Jackson County, but DHS has been taking a closer look at all care settings to make sure people are safe. When a foster home must be shut down immediately, local DHS staff work to identify available placement options in the community such as other foster home providers, assisted living or residential care facilities or nursing facilities prior to serving the immediate suspension notice. They also notify the residents' families, if known, at the same time. The staff then work with the residents and families to move them to the new placement, Carson-Cottingham said. "It is disruptive and traumatic and we only use this option if it is a last resort and we believe that there is an immediate threat to health and safety," she said. Although the moves can be difficult for residents, Carson-Cottingham said DHS is committed to the safety of residents in long-term licensed care. The agency will suspend or revoke licenses in egregious situations, she said. Staff reporter Vickie Aldous can be reached at 541-776-4486 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous. By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Follow @@VickieAldous Posted Jun. 1, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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