State Shuts Down Anaheim Nursing Home

Two recent deaths and various regulatory problems led state officials Monday to close an Anaheim nursing facility, forcing 30 people to be transferred to other homes.

The state Department of Social Services alleged on Monday that the circumstances of two client deaths within a three-month period were questionable.

Violations of clients’ personal rights were also cited, as well as lack of care and supervision. Also, the Fire Department permit issued for the Pearlmark Home Annex, 127 Hill Place, had been rescinded, and the property’s mortgage had been foreclosed in May, state officials said.

“In March, a client in the facility died from heart failure,” said Fred Miller, who directs the state’s licensing program. “Although the client had an ongoing prescription for heart medicine, reports showed that there was no medicine in the client’s system at the time of death.”

Miller did not disclose details of the second death.

The state also alleged the acceptance of a client whose medical needs were greater than those allowed in a community care facility. “From all indications,” said Miller, “that client should not have been accepted by Ms. Arrabaca.”

Pearlmark is one of four residential community care facilities licensed to Melissa Arrabaca, who was unavailable for comment. A supervisor who works for Arrabaca declined to comment Monday.

The state is seeking to revoke all four licenses. The others include Lynn’s Guest Home in Anaheim, Pearlmark Home No. 5 in Anaheim and Pearlmark Home No. 1 in Garden Grove.

Department of Social Services spokeswoman Kathleen Norris said the 30 residents at the facility involved in Monday’s closing were being transferred to other facilities nearby, but she did not have details.

“We have to weigh the trauma of that transfer before we do something like this,” Norris said. “It’s taken into consideration.”