complaint·August 18, 2022

INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: Allegation: Illegal eviction. The facility abandoned resident at the hospital. The details on this complaint state resident #1 (R1) was illegally evicted and abandoned at the hospital by the facility. The complainant reported (R1) was dropped off at the hospital on 08/11/22 and was inappropriately returned to a family member who was asked to meet in front of the hospital. The complainant states the family member was contacted by administrator staff #1 (S1) to meet (R1) at the hospital. It was reported that (S1) is no longer able to care for (R1) as he ran out of medications. The Department reached out to the complainant and was unable to obtain additional information. An interview with family member witness #1 (W1) states that (R1) was admitted to this facility for over 30 days. (R1) admitted himself with the assistance of Life Tree Foundation who contacted the licensee and made arrangements. (W1) claims the licensee/administrator at this facility is accommodating, cooperative and helpful. (W1) reports that (R1) does not have a legal guardian and that Life Tree Foundation was involved with his financial matters. (W1) claims she is uncertain if (R1) was illegally evicted or abandoned as (S1) has been in communication with (W1). (W1) reports (R1) is still in at Harbor UCLA Medical Center under observation. An interview with staff #1 (S1) claims (R1) was admitted to this facility on 07/13/22. (R1) went through the proper admissions procedures with a preplacement appraisal, physician's report, and admission agreement. (R1) was a resident from 07/13/22 through 08/11/22. (S1) states she accepted (R1) on a volunteer basis. (R1) came from Life Tree Foundation a non-profit organization that assisted with the funding of homeless individuals. (S1) claims she accepted (R1) on a charitable lower rate than the normal basic service rate. According to (S1) she did not charge for optional services. The funding agreement for (R1) is paid through contribution from the Life Tree Foundation. However, (R1) was out of medications and with no public guardian; (S1) was contacted the case manager witness #2 (W2) of Life Tree Foundation. (W2) arranged for a transportation service to admit (R1) in the hospital for observation to obtain medications. (S1) coordinated with (W1-W2) and made arrangements with (W1) to meet with (R1) at the hospital through transportation provided by Life Tree Foundation. (S1) claims she did not know what transpired was considered an illegal eviction and did not constitute what happened was considered an abandonment of (R1). (S1) reports she did not go through the proper Eviction Procedures as required by Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8. Evaluation Report continues LIC 9099-C (S1) asserts she thought she was only doing what was best under the circumstances and followed directives from (W2) at Life Tree Foundation. (S1) claims she had no contact with the hospital or with (R1) only with the family member for (R1). An interview with case manager witness #2 (W2) confirms that (R1) came to the program homeless and did not have family who wanted to get involved financially with (R1's) well-being. Life Tree Foundation assisted with placing the (R1) in an assisted living home through donations. (W2) admitted that he gave directives on how to handle (R1's) admission at the hospital where (R1) has an active LA Care Health Plan and to allow the family members to be involved for the welfare of (R1). Based on the Department's observation and interviews, records reviews, and analysis, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the allegations of "Illegal Eviction" and "The facility abandoned resident at the hospital" is Substantiated . California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 6, Chapter 8, is being cited on the attached LIC 9099-D. An exit interview was conducted with Yolanda Bernardo. The Rights were discussed and a copy of App eals Procedures for Licensees was provided, as well as a copy of this report to the Administrator.