Elderly Care Facility (Photo – Etan J. Tal. file)
Skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) provide long-term care services to many of Pasadena’s older adults with underlying chronic medical conditions. Despite regulation by the state and the county, substandard care is an ongoing and persistent problem in many SNFs throughout the region, including Pasadena. The COVID-19 pandemic magnified systemic deficiencies at SNFs that threatened the lives of many of Pasadena’s most vulnerable residents.
By News Desk
In June 2020, more than 60 residents were evacuated from Golden Cross Health Care in Pasadena after the skilled nursing facility’s license was suspended by the Licensing and Certification Program of the CA Department of Public Health (CDPH) due to ongoing quality of care issues reported to the licensing agency by the City of Pasadena Fire and Public Health Departments, and the local long-term care ombudsman. Less than four months later, more than 30 residents were evacuated from Foothill Heights Care Center in Pasadena due to excessively high indoor temperatures, again reported by City departments to the licensing agency and in response to resident complaints.
The City of Pasadena does not have direct oversight of Skilled Nursing Facilities or authority to enforce SNF regulations and standards. Due to continued shortfalls in oversight and enforcement, the City has made it a priority to leverage resources to advocate for improved regulation and to take action where possible. It was deemed that a multidisciplinary team was required to fulfill this objective.
In August 2021, the City established the Pasadena Elderly and Dependent Adult Liaisons (PEDAL) team. The mission of PEDAL is to improve the quality of life for elders and dependent adults residing in long-term care facilities through education, community outreach, code enforcement, and prosecution. PEDAL builds upon prior work performed by the City in this arena.
PEDAL has already completed coordinated inspections, escalating reporting of operational deficiencies to regulatory agencies, and is actively addressing enforceable violations. Work is also underway for outreach and education with a new webpage to be released soon on the City of Pasadena website.
PEDAL includes representatives from the City Manager’s Office; Pasadena Departments of Public Health, Fire, Police, and Planning & Community Development; Code Enforcement; City Prosecutor’s Office; WISE and Healthy Aging Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program; and Huntington Hospital.
Leave a Reply