Facility loses license; elderly lose home

By ANDREA GARCIA
Fairfield Daily Republic ©

After 25 years of caring for the elderly, the doors to Kings Way Care Home formerly the Goss care home are closing in two days. But not all clients have found a place to stay.

Juanita Blakely, a woman in her 80s who suffers from dementia, sat considerably still Wednesday afternoon on one of many recliners inside the spacious home. Her eyes remained closed for the most part, lips pursed the entire time and an air of oblivion seemed to surround her perhaps for the best.

The care home lost its license last month. Annie Honrubia, designated representative at Kings Way Care Home, submitted the application last year. The state rejected it, although Honrubia has been running the facility since December 2005.

According to a letter dated March 28 and addressed to Honrubia from the Department of Social Services, the reasons for denial include not enough money to pay employees or buy food; improper use of client money; transfer of staff members from other facilities without first verifying their criminal background clearance status; operation in violation of the law; and false claims in dealings with Community Care Licensing.

'These are things we didnt know about,' said Lenore Blakely, Juanitas daughter, who sat next to her mother.

A letter dated April 2 was mailed to the families of its clients, advising its license was denied. They had 30 days to find another care facility for their loved ones.

For some, however, the letter was received one week later, meaning they had three weeks to leave the facility.

By April 13, six of the 12 residents were still in the spacious home-like facility. Of those, three had definite placements while the other half had possible places to go.

On Wednesday, Juanita Blakely and 87-year-old Willene Schiflet, an Alzheimers client who has been in the hospital for more than two weeks with pneumonia, remained in the care home, with nowhere to go.

Carolyn Wright is Schiflets niece and frequents the home on a daily basis. She has spent days searching for a place her aunt will call home. In fact, she said, in three days she visited more than 10 places. But all to no avail.

'I went to a lot of different places but theyre unfriendly or its not fixed up,' she said as tears rolled down her cheeks. 'I have to find a place for her. I have to.'

Edith Nelson, Honrubias niece who is in charge of elder placement, was at the house Wednesday afternoon to speak with Lenore Blakely regarding her mother.

She doesnt know why the facility is closing and feels bad, she said. The report, however, mentions her name along with Nelda Asuncion, manager, in regards to 'Operation in violation of law' and failure to be 'forthright in their dealings with Community Care Licensing.'

'Annie did not get her license because there are things that have to be improved,' she said. 'Thats why it has to be closed.'

Meanwhile, Lenore Blakely and family friend, Brian Agid, are scrambling to find a home for Juanita, although Nelson and Honrubia offered to place her in a Concord care facility run by Honrubia. Blakely and Agid refused.

Honrubia said she is seeking the advice from a licensing person in Suisun City.