Leticia and Tony Perez own Oakland Springs Health Care Center, which earned notoriety after a woman shot and killed her daughter and then herself at the facility recently. Diana Harden alleged that her daughter had been mistreated while a resident at the facility and that was one of the reasons that led to the murder/suicide. The incident, as well as past citations, have led to an investigation through the Public Health Department.
Leticia and Tony Perez also own Oakhill Springs Care Center in Oakland, California. Many of the residents of this facility are completely dependent upon staff for all activities of daily living, such as dressing and bathing, eating, and using the restroom. Most of the facility's residents have psychiatric or behavioral problems or dementia. The facility has a one star rating, according to the new rating system instituted by The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid. The one-star rating is partially based on staffing levels and on the most recent annual inspection by Public Health Department inspectors.
According to the May 28, 2009 inspection, inspectors found:
- Seven residents were not provided the appropriate diets and several lost weight due to insufficient caloric intake - despite doctor's orders. One woman lost nearly 8% of her body weight because she was not given a pureed fortified diet that her physician had ordered. Her doctor could not understand why his patient continued to lose weight, despite the health shakes he had ordered for her three times daily. The health inspector did not find any record of the order being implemented or that the resident's diet was fortified with high calorie food. When the cook was asked how she fortified the diets, she said, "I add thickener to the pureed food."
- Residents suffering from kidney disease were given high potassium foods, which could have caused their condition to become life-threatening or at a minimum, worsen their kidney disease.
- Another resident was served fish despite a severe allergy to fish and shellfish that was recorded in their medical records.
- In October 2008, a member of the nursing staff put an iron medication tablet into a resident's feeding tube, causing it to become clogged. The nurse in charge of medication said that liquid iron had not been in stock for two weeks since the medication was ordered.
- In June 2009, inspectors found that doors were unable to be closed due to beds being in the way, which could cause smoke or flames to spread if there were a fire.
The Perezes also operate Oakgrove Springs Care Center in Oakland, California; Hayward Springs Care Center in Hayward, California; Lafayette Care Center in Lafayette, California; and Pleasant Hill Manor in Pleasant Hill, California. The Pleasant Hill facility was cited for numerous violations and, in fact, a resident was reportedly overmedicated in 2004, requiring hospitalization. The Perezes' licensing company, LTP Legacy, LLC, is a named party in a lawsuit concerning the care an elderly resident received at Oakland Springs - then called Clinton Village Convalescent Hospital, that contributed to her death. Tressie Mae Evans was alleged to have been frequently found lying in a soaking wet in a dirty bed with feces from December 2007 until her death six months later. There is no record of a state investigation into Ms. Evans' death.
The Terry Law Firm is experienced in handling cases of nursing home abuse and neglect. Please contact us with any questions or concerns at (888) 317-2525 or visit us on our website at www.nursinghomejustice.com.
