complaint·December 14, 2023

According to interviews received, R1’s responsible party (RP) was told to pay a $500.00 refundable deposit to hold room for R1. RP asked administrator if the $500.00 deposit fee could be applied towards rent and was told no. The deposit will be refunded after R1 moves out of the facility. On 7/28/2023, R1 relocated to another facility and RP requested for the facility to refund the $500.00 but was told by the administrator the $300.00 of the $500.00 was used for transportation fees to doctor’s office. RP cannot recall what administrator used the remaining $200.00 for. RP indicated that per the admission agreement, doctor’s visit fees are included in the basic service rate. Deposit fees or preadmission fees cannot be found in the admission agreement. The Department reviewed R1’s admission agreement. R1’s date of admission is 6/29/2023. Admission agreement indicated the facility will provide R1 with basic services which include single room, food service, and helping gain access to supportive services as follows doctor visits. Plans arrange and/or provide for transportation to medical and dental appointments as follows is family responsible. The monthly private pay rate for basic services as specified is $6,000.00. According to refund policy the agreement must indicate whether or not all, or any portion(s), of a payment will be refunded. A refund will be granted as follows: not applicable. The Department requested and reviewed the facility’s program description for transportation outside of facility planned events. Crown Point Villa shall gladly arrange for resident transportation outside of facility events. Methods of transportation may vary and may include taxicabs, paratransit, local bus, and other non-medical transportation companies. All medical and dental appointments requiring facility transportation must be approved in advance by the facility administrator, to ensure adequate staffing levels for the residents at all times. According to the facility’s admission fee/policy, Crown Point Villa shall not charge a preadmission fee. For the purpose of this section, “preadmission fee” means application fee, processing fee, admission fee, entrance fee, community fee, or other fees, however designated that is requested or accepted by a licensee of a residential care facility for the elderly prior to admission. Crown Point Villa shall not require, request, or accept any funds from a resident or resident’s representative that constitute a deposit against any possible damages by a resident. The facility provided email conversations between the administrator and RP. On 7/29/2023, RP emailed the administrator and requested for deposit to be refunded. On 8/3/2023, the administrator responded to RP’s email by providing a list of what was being charged and receipts. The Department received interview statement from facility administrator. The administrator indicated that R1 was transported three times and had gone over receipts with RP to ensure there was an agreement with the expenses. 1.Transportation of R1 from previous facility to Crown Point Villa including all of R1’s belongings. 2. Transportation of R1’s to doctor’s appointment at Kaiser, two caregivers were waiting outside for 2 hours. RP gave the administrator the wrong appointment date and administrator told RP the facility does not transport residents. Administrator stated RP told administrator to charge from deposit. 3. Transportation of R1 to Kaiser Emergency Department for blood sugar levels. The administrator called wheelchair transport and called RP who requested the administrator to transport R1 to the hospital. The Administrator notified RP that the facility does not transport residents for free and the fee would be charged from the deposit which RP agreed upon. The administrator notified RP that basic services are provided at the facility in the admission agreement but does not include transportation. The administrator denied telling RP that deposit fee was refundable. The administrator stated it is not Crown Point Villa’s practice to ask for deposit fee and never asked for deposit from any other facility, however, in this case facility had charged R1’s RP $500.00 to secure a room for R1. The administrator indicated that the facility does not have a deposit policy in place. The administrator and RP had a verbal agreement that the deposit fee of $500.00 would be used for transportation and the facility had issued RP receipts on the last day R1 relocated to a different facility. The administrator indicated that has no issue refunded the $500.00 and had reached out to RP on multiple occasions but did not receive a response from RP to pick up check. According to the facility’s admission policy, Crown Point Villa shall not charge a preadmission fee. For the purpose of this section, “preadmission fee” means an application fee, processing fee, admission fee, entrance fee, or other fees, however, designated that is requested or accepted by a licensee of a residential care facility for the elderly prior to admission. Crown Point Villa shall not require, request, or accept any funds from a resident or resident’s representative that constitute a deposit against any possible damages by a resident. R1 was admitted to the facility on 6/29/2023 and relocated to another facility on 7/28/2023. It was discovered that there was no written general statement that clearly explained the conditions for refund. R1 left the facility during the first month of residency, the resident shall be entitled to a refund of at least 80 percent of the preadmission free amount. Based on the information provided, it does not appear that the administrator accepted this deposit under the requirements and conditions of the California Health and Safety Code. The following deficiency is cited as per California Health and Safety Code section 1569.651(h)(2). Based on interviews and records review, the Department finds the allegation to be SUBSTANTIATED. A finding that the allegation is substantiated means that the allegation is valid because the preponderance of the evidence standard has been met. Exit interview conducted and report provided. Appeal rights provided. According to an interview statement received, R1 was charged $200.00 for transportation to Kaiser Roseville which was approximately one mile from the facility. R1 was transferred to the hospital twice. According to R1’s admission agreement, the facility agrees to ensure a safe and healthful living environment for all residents, the following basic services must be available. The services actually provided will be those the resident wants and those the residents need, based on the individual’s pre-admission appraisal, and the needs and services plan. Subsequently resident appraisals may result in the need for additional basic services: helping gain access to supportive services as follows, doctor visits. Plan, arrange, and/or provide for transportation to medical and dental appointment as follows: family responsible. According to the facility’s program description, Crown Point Villa shall gladly arrange for resident transportation outside of facility events. Method of transportation may vary and may include, taxicabs, paratransit, local bus, and other non-medical transportation companies. All medical and dental appointments requiring facility transportation must be approved by in advance by the facility administrator, to ensure adequate staffing levels for the residents at all times. The facility’s program description and R1’s admission agreement does not specify how much the facility will charge residents in care for medical transportation fees. The Department interviewed and received a statement from the administrator. According to the administrator, the facility does not assist residents in care with transportation to medical and dental appointments. The administrator indicated residents’ responsible parties are responsible for transporting residents to medical and dental appointments. If residents in care needs assistance with transportation the resident’s responsible party would notify administrator in advance for approval. The administrator stated had spoken to R1’s RP and had a verbal agreement that the $500.00 deposit fee will go towards R1’s medical transportation and relocation of R1 from previous facility to Crown Point Villa. There was no written agreement between the facility and R1’s RP. The facility did not specify or provide RP with an itemized list of charges. The Department is unable to determine if the facility overcharged resident. Due to the information above, CCL finds the allegation to be UNSUBSTANTIATED, meaning that although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of the evidence to prove that the alleged violation occurred. An exit interview was conducted, and a copy of the report was left at the facility.