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Home / Neighborhood / San Gabriel Valley / Pasadena Independent / Vice Mayor Hampton Prompts Investigation Into Pasadena Nursing Home

Vice Mayor Hampton Prompts Investigation Into Pasadena Nursing Home

by Terry Miller
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A security guard stands watch Friday morning June 12 at the now closed nursing facility. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News

City of Pasadena removed 63 patients from Golden Cross last week

By Terry Miller

Sixty-threepatients at the Golden Cross Health Care nursing home in Pasadena wereevacuated from the unlicensed facility due to numerous safety and healthviolations, including serious concerns about protocols related to thecoronavirus pandemic, treatment of patients and lack of PPE, authorities saidFriday.

The facilityhad a capacity of 96 and was certified on April 1, 2020, according to staterecords. At least 72 residents and 32 staff in the facility were confirmed tohave been infected with the novel coronavirus, which is also linked to eightdeaths there.

“The citywent above and beyond in protecting the more than 60 residents at Golden Cross.The healthcare facility, located on North Fair Oaks, failed to do its mostfundamental duty in providing its most basic functions of caring for thesepatients: providing sufficient nutrition and water, and ensuring their safetyfrom not only COVID-19, but also basic medical needs like oxygen, diabetescare, wound care,” city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian told Pasadena Independent.

The cost of care in nursing homes in the U.S. is prohibitive for many, and it can vary widely between regions and states, from around $5,000 to $25,000 per month. How much a nursing home charges depends on its location, staffing levels, the complexity of care offered and the facility’s size and quality. There may also be additional charges for individualized care.

Vice MayorTyron Hampton has been calling for investigations into nursing homes since thepandemic of COVID-19 changed each of our lives forever.

“I have beencalling for an investigation into our response in these facilities since thebeginning of the outbreak,” said Hampton. “We need to make sure all ofour residents are being treated with dignity and respect, and I will continueto hold our health department accountable.”

Hampton hasbeen outspoken regarding his belief that the Pasadena Public Health Department(PPHD) “failed to hold senior care facilities accountable.” In the city 61% ofcases (518 of 1,058 as of Tuesday) and 88% percent of deaths (75 of 85 as ofTuesday) are associated with long-term care facilities.

Hampton toldPasadena Independent in a written statement that the response he receivedconsistently from PPHD is that it’s an issue of jurisdiction.

Vice Mayor Hampton has been calling to investigate wrong-doings at some Pasadena nursing homes. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News

“I’ve neverbeen satisfied with that response. I will not be satisfied with that response.I believe that our public health department has a duty to protect the healthand well-being of every Pasadena resident, especially those that are among themost vulnerable members of our community. I wish action had been taken sooner,but I’m pleased that the pressure I applied resulted in more specific directionto staff and a greater focus on these facilities. It is imperative that eachand every individual who lives in one of these facilities is treated withdignity and respect, and I want each of them to know that we care about theirhealth and well-being. With that being said, I will continue to hold the publichealth department accountable because it is not a jurisdiction issue, it’s anaccountability issue. I hope it’s clear to all of the skilled nursingfacilities in Pasadena that I’m watching, and that the Pasadena Public HealthDepartment is watching too.”

Councilman Victor Gordo has also been a vocal proponent for more accountability from these nursing homes. We requested comment from Gordo, however, our calls were not immediately returned.

Pasadenacity staff “repeatedly and relentlessly pushed the state to act on theinformation being collected by its own inspectors, who were regulating GoldenCross. As well as other long-term care facilities,” according to Derderian.

“Thisfacility [Golden Cross] was so unstable, it required assistance from the CAlMatteam (EMSA), and the National Guard, and both teams reported concerns about thepoor quality of care and lack of improvement when the state issued multipleplans of correction.

“The Cityhad prepared options for alternative SNFs for residents early on, includingmobilizing EMS transport multiple times, and having the Ombudsman communicatewith families, but was stopped by the state per their request. They issued atemporary suspension of the license but still encountered difficultyimplementing the actual movement of residents out, so they asked for assistancefrom the city. The facility was operating without a license.

“The citywent into action immediately and was able to safely transfer all patients tonew locations,” Derderian said.

COVID-19 simply unmasked the underlying and ongoing problems at Golden Cross that should be monitored by the state regulatory authority. Once their license was revoked, they were operating without a license, and the city was able to move residents out.

“Thefacility lied to the city on several occasions on the health status of their patients,”according to Derderian. “Sad when they put greed in front of patient careand welfare and only look at the business aspect not the human beings and familiesinvolved.”

The facility will now be the focus of additional investigations. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News

There are 75registered nursing homes providing care for seniors in the greater Pasadenaarea. By Friday morning, the patients had been relocated to other facilities inLos Angeles County via a convoy of about 30 private ambulances.

Derderian told Pasadena Now that officials working at the Golden Cross could face charges as the state and local police conduct investigations.

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