Complaint·June 1, 2023

On 03/11/2021, to ensure the facility had adequate staffing, the facility entered into an agreement for services with a fully licensed senior care care giving company. The company would have responsibilities including Admissions, Staffing, and Care Services for a portion of residents located in a specific wing of the facility. The contract stated that the facility would not be responsible for monitoring the health of residents in that wing of the facility, but that the care giving company would report any resident health changes to the facility. The care giving company warranted that all employees were certified as Home Care Aides, registered with Home Care Services Bureau of the California Department of Social Services and were fully vetted prior to placement at the facility. The employees of the care giving company would include observation of residents’ health, assistance following physicians’ orders, and help with personal care needs. The contract noted that the facility recognized that the care giving company was not a licensed medical facility and was not licensed to provide services including pressure sores, serious infections, gastronomy care, and tracheostomies. The care giving company employees were also restricted from administering oxygen, catheter care, colostomy, diabetes, and enemas/suppositories. On 08/30/2022, the facility provided a written notice with 90 days required advanced notice to terminate the contractual agreement with the senior care care giving company. In October 2022, the care giving company no longer had employees working in the facility. There is no language in the written contract between the facility and senior care giving company that restricted or excluded employees from providing medication assistance to residents in the specified wing of the facility. The senior care giving company was fully licensed with employees who assisted residents with Activities of Daily Living, Assistance with personal care, and transportation. Evaluations of each resident’s need for care was made by a health professional of the senior care giving company and was provided in accordance with an agreed upon care plan for each resident. The caregivers from the company were contracted by the facility and were not private caregivers contracted by residents to provide additional services not already provided from the facility. The caregivers from the company were temporarily used to ensure sufficient staffing at the facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the information obtained, there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegations. Therefore, they are deemed Unsubstantiated at this time. Exit interview conducted. Copy of report sent via email and printed.