Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Pueblo assisted living home put residents in danger, loses license after state investigation

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PUEBLO, Colo. - UPDATE:

It is still unclear who is looking after the residents still at the Johnson Home assisted living facility. The Department of Health and Environment are not aware of who is looking after the residents who elected to remain after the license was suspended earlier this month.

Pueblo County had some Medicaid customers living at the facility and the county worked in a support role to make sure those customers were relocated.

The Pueblo County Adult Protective Services did not return any of KRDO's inquiries.

The Pueblo Department is no stranger to the assisted living facility on the 400 block of W 13th street. Since the beginning of 2017, officers have been called out to the building 523 times.

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An assisted living nursing home in Pueblo has temporarily lost its license to operate after a state investigation found that staff and administrators deliberately violated state regulations and put elderly residents in danger.

The Johnson Home assisted living facility has been operating since 2012. Earlier this month, the Colorado Department of Health and Environment suspended their license to operate and escorted willing residents to new assisted living homes.

Through a CORA request KRDO obtained a Summary of Suspension, outlining why state officials elected to suspend their license.

According to the state's findings, residents living with mental health issues consistently were without their medications. Residents who refused to take their medications for months demonstrated violent behaviors without penalty.

One resident threatened a neighbor with a knife. Another resident set several objects on fire on multiple occasions. A third resident would smoke cigarettes inside her apartment while using an oxygen tank. Homeless were allowed to sleep in the apartment of one of the residents.

A judge will ultimately decide if the facility's temporary license suspension will become permanent.

KRDO reached out to the owners of the facility, Paul and Alan Spicola, but they couldn't be reached for comment.

Several residents were not willing to leave the apartments, and still live in their homes. It is unclear who is looking after those residents.

Pueblo County Adult Protective Services did not respond to requests for comment.


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Pueblo assisted living home put residents in danger, loses license after state investigation

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