Assisted living facility under investigation for elder abuse, neglect

LANSDOWNE, Md. - Baltimore County police are investigating an assisted living facility after receiving reports of possible elder abuse.

According to police, a cousin of a resident at an assisted living facility said that she went to visit and found her relative tied to a chair. She also informed police that she saw a pair of moldy dentures by the bathroom sink. She reported the possible abuse to authorities on March 8.

Police and two representatives from the Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ), a division of the Maryland Department of Health and Hygiene met with the owner at the facility. When the officer and the OHQC representatives began to conduct a site inspection, the owner told them that all of the residents were off-site at the movies.

Upon further inspection, the officer found two residents in a locked room on the first floor and 12 residents in a locked room on the second floor. Sixteen residents between the ages of 50 and 95 were living in the facility, but the facility was only licensed for four residents, according to police.

Medics assessed the condition of all residents at the scene and one was taken to the hospital for treatment of a non-life threatening injury. The OHQC representatives assisted in moving all of the residents to different facilities.

The investigation is still ongoing. Once the investigation is complete, the information will be sent to the Baltimore County State's Attorney's office for review. 

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Assisted living facility under investigation for elder abuse, neglect