WATTS : State Revokes License of Adult-Care Center

The state Department of Social Services last week revoked the license of a South-Central adult-care center after a judge cited substandard conditions there, including lack of food and hot water.

In a six-page letter, Administrative Law Judge Paul M. Hogan recommended closing the 50-bed Sharon Lynn Guest Home, citing at least 10 instances of poor care. Among the complaints he addressed were lack of water in the rooms, deteriorating sanitary conditions including filthy bathrooms, lack of sufficient food for 18 residents and failure to maintain patient health records.

The Department of Social Services filed a complaint in Superior Court in July, 1992, after being notified of substandard conditions by an individual at the center, who was not identified. Social Services officials declined to say whether the individual is a resident or a worker at the facility.

“The bottom line is: The facility is in decline,” said Lawrence Bolton, deputy director of legal services for the Department of Social Services. “Not only was the physical plant in neglect, but the residents were being neglected.”

State and local officials were negotiating the relocation of 14 residents of the center at 12040 S. Broadway late Wednesday, just hours before the center’s license expired.

The owner of the center, Geneva Church, declined comment, according to her representative, Darryl Alexander. Alexander said Church filed a petition with Social Services requesting a review of the decision but that the request was denied.

Authorities said all 14 residents were expected to be relocated to other adult-care facilities by today.

Inside the one-story center, residents wandered through darkened hallways and into dirty bathrooms that smelled of urine and feces. Authorities said some improvements had been made, but at least one resident said life at the center remained difficult.

“When I first came here I couldn’t believe how dirty it was,” said resident Tom Jones III. “The place is unsafe and they serve soup every night for dinner. People can’t get seconds if they want.”

Roland Armstrong, who lives next door to the center, said he was glad to see the facility close.

“That place is a trap,” Armstrong said. “I’ve had to listen to those people scream all night. The worst part of it is the filth, the roaches and rats. I’ve seen one guy wander out onto the street sometimes and stand on the corner begging for quarters.”

The center, which was licensed in 1983 to provide care for adults 18 to 59, has a long history of problems, according to Social Services officials.

In one incident in December, 1987, paramedics who responded to an emergency call at the center found no administrator on duty and were not provided information on the residents’ medical care, Hogan wrote in his report.

Bolton said Wednesday’s action came after Church failed to cooperate with officials for several months.

Social Services oversees licensing for the 80,000 care facilities statewide, including day-care, elder-care and adult-care centers. Fewer than 1,000 licenses are revoked annually, Bolton said.