Resident of Convalescent Home Handcuffed, Ex-Employee Says

A fired employee of one of two El Toro convalescent homes closed by the state testified Thursday that she had seen an elderly resident physically abused and had been instructed not to disclose certain common practices, such as handcuffing patients.

“I knew there were certain things I was not supposed to tell, like to Maria’s relatives, ‘Hey, when you’re not here (at night), Maria’s handcuffed to the bed,’ ” said Lisa DeGross, who worked for Love Haven II owners Mike and Karen Cabael from July to August, 1986.

A hearing began Monday on state Department of Social Services allegations of brutality, neglect and illegal management against the owners of Love Haven I and II, which were closed April 6. Love Haven II is at 24311 Bark St., and the original Love Haven, owned by Mike Cabael’s mother, Ingrid Henshall, is across the street.

Henshall is accused by the state of beating a resident with a shoe because she kept getting out of bed and of dragging another patient into a bathroom, slapping her and pulling her hair.

The Cabaels are charged with handcuffing and tying residents to their beds, forcing them to sleep on soiled sheets, force-feeding one and denying food to another because she shared her dinner with the Cabaels’ cat and two dogs.

In testimony similar to that of three other former employees who have been witnesses this week, DeGross described incidents of verbal and physical abuse. She said Maria, whose last name was withheld, was handcuffed to her bed or wheelchair 10-15 times a week; she said that Karen Cabael specifically told her not to mention the handcuffs to visitors.

She also testified that the Cabaels kept marijuana and a handgun on the premises in easy reach. She said that once she and Mike Cabael went to a Santa Ana liquor store to buy marijuana, and Cabael took a gun with him.

DeGross recounted an incident in which one resident identified only as Margaret C. hit Henshall. She said Henshall straddled the woman’s lap, grabbed her hair, pulled her head back and said: “You don’t do that here. You don’t hit people in this house.”

Another time, she said, Henshall taunted a resident identified as Dorothy by calling her a “fat cow.”

But DeGross’ testimony also raised questions about some of the state’s charges. She said the woman who supposedly was denied food actually was denied only dessert.

“It wasn’t like punishing a child: ‘Oh, you don’t want to eat? OK, go to bed,’ ” she said. “She’s old. You have to feed old people to keep them up.”

DeGross also rebutted an allegation by the state that Henshall refused to allow residents in either home to meet privately with relatives.

The hearing will continue today at the Amtrak Station Building in Santa Ana, with testimony from state investigators. Attorney Steven B. Fishman will begin his defense Wednesday.

Administrative Law Judge John A. Willd said he should be able to send a recommendation to the Department of Social Services within 20 days after the hearing ends.

Following advice from their attorney, Henshall and the Cabaels refused to comment.

“I’m rather pleased with the bulk of what was said today,” Fishman declared. “It indicates the great deal of compassion shown at the facilities.”

During Wednesday’s testimony, Dr. Jay Axelrod and Dr. Henry Bruce testified that the owners of Love Haven I and II are skilled and trustworthy professionals. Both expressed doubt about the state allegations.

The former staff members who testified, Fishman said, were “extremely inexperienced” and didn’t understand the “nature of the dynamics between Ingrid and the residents.” Those dynamics, he said, would be fully described Wednesday when Henshall takes the stand.

The testimony about marijuana, he contended, is irrelevant because the amount was insignificant, and it was for personal use. The gun, he said, is kept in the Cabaels’ living quarters, safely away from residents.

“I’ve got two kids,” Cabael exclaimed over his lawyer’s shoulder. “They can’t get to it.”

DeGross was fired from Love Haven II in August after the Cabaels confronted her with an empty cigarette pack containing one green capsule. DeGross said Thursday that the pack was hers but the pill was not.

“Why would I take a pill from some old person when I don’t even know what the thing will do to me?” she asked.