State Emptying Adult Home; Inspection Finds ‘Abuse, Neglect’

FULTON, NY – Prompted by an emergency order that suspended the operating certificate at the Rosewood Home for Adults in Fulton, the New York State Department of Health has stepped in to oversee the care and safe transfer of 16 residents to other facilities.

The operator of the facility – Rose Shorter – was served with the order Wednesday after a health department investigation determined that she was “endangering the health, safety and welfare of the facility’s residents,” according to health department spokesperson Jeffrey Hammond. State Health Commissioner Richard F. Daines signed the order that day.

To read the complete order that was signed by the state Department of Health Commissioner Wednesday, click here (PDF).

Shorter could not be reached for comment. The person who said she was next in charge at Rosewood, who identified herself only as “Robin,” said Shorter and others at Rosewood have “no comments at this time.”

“This inspection was not complaint driven,” Hammond said. “It was the result of our department’s vigor. … The results of the investigation were disturbing and appalling to say the least.”

The order bars Rosewood from admitting new residents and directs the operator to begin the process of transferring residents to other facilities. That transfer was directed to be complete by July 24.

In addition, Rosewood has been placed on the state department of health’s “Do Not Refer” list, according to Hammond.

Hammond explained that the investigation started at the end of June after state inspectors found things that were “unusual” and “disturbing” during an inspection that was part of Rosewood’s re-certification process.

“They were there doing routine surveillance of the facility,” Hammond said. After detecting several problems, an investigation began.

“There were a number of deficiencies,” Hammond said. “Our inspectors are pretty vigorous and good at their jobs.”

Ultimately, it was determined that “Rosewood staff failed to provide residents with courteous, fair and respectful care and treatment and subjected them to abuse and neglect,” Hammond said.

Citing examples, two residents were found to have contracted head lice in June. As a result, male residents were subjected to mandatory brush-cuts that were performed by a minor who was not properly trained to cut hair. Appropriate infection control measures were not taken and residents were inspected for lice outdoors and in the presence of others without privacy, the order says.

While residents were outside, staff at Rosewood gathered all of the residents’ clothing, linens and personal belongings. Residents were not given clothing to wear and were forced to sleep without bedding.

“Residents were forced to wear sheets in lieu of clothing and, according to resident complaints, one resident wore a hospital gown for two days and another resident had only a towel to wear for approximately 18 hours,” the order says. “Another resident complained that she had no underwear or socks for two days and had no sheets on her bed for approximately six days.”

Other violations cited include: failure to notify a resident’s physician when the resident became ill, fell and sustained a head injury; failure to provide medication according to a physician’s order; and failure to document that residents had been provided with medications. In another violation, residents were also found wearing soiled and urine soaked clothing.

The order – which is 11 pages long – also cites past examples of deficiencies found at the Rosewood Home.

“There have been deficiencies before,” Hammond said. “At the time, they did not rise to the level (necessary to suspended Shorter’s operating certificate). … The Commissioner signed an emergency order. That doesn’t happen very often so it is obvious how serious this has become.”

Shorter is the operator of another facility in Cortland County, the Rosewood Senior Citizen’s Home in Cincinnatus, which is also on the Do Not Refer list and has been for some time, according to Hammond. The reason cited is a revoked operating certificate.

Hammond said that the health department is on site in Fulton and watching over resident evaluations for transfer to appropriate facilities.

“We are evaluating each to determine where they can go to receive the appropriate level of care they require,” he said. Hammond noted that the state is working with residents and families to determine where each person will be placed.

“There are a number of options,” he said.

“The important thing is that the state Department of Health is on site and will continue to be on site until the transfer process is complete,” he said. “The facility is under our supervision and the residents will not go without proper care.”

Hammond noted that anyone who has concerns or complaints about assisted living facilities can file a complaint with the State Department of Health by calling 1-866-893-6772.

“All complaints are reviewed and all complainants are kept confidential,” he stressed.

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