The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) ordered a moratorium banning new patients at the Edwinola Retirement Community weeks ago and also declared its intention to revoke that facility’s state license. But owner of the Edwinola has just put the state on notice they plan to fight that revocation and remain in business.
Back in April the state took action after one dementia patient in a lockdown ward at the Edwinola was arrested for beating to death another dementia patients. That same month a third dementia patient committed suicide by leaping from a balcony and four dementia patients “eloped” under the nose of Edwinola’s staff.
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Charlene Chynoweth saw Eight on Your Side stories about those incidents and decided to move her elderly mother elsewhere. “Everything added together and I didn’t want to take the risk of waiting on the state, “said Chynoweth.
The Edwinola has a history of serious complaints going back as far as 2011 when a resident died from untreated bed sores. New legislation signed into law Tuesday by Governor Rick Scott is intended to give AHCA more authority to act swiftly in cases where ALF’s have serious repeat violations. “It’s been a long time coming,” said State Representative Larry Ahern (R) Seminole who sponsored that bill.
Ahern insists that improved safeguards for thousands of residents who live in Florida’s assisted living facilities is important. “Let’s make sure they either correct or their license is in jeopardy,”Ahern said.
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