Aug 26 2009
Operators Of Three Florida Assisted Living Facilities Arrested
The operators of three separate assisted living facilities in Florida have been arrested, all on charges of operating without licenses. One of the arrests was in Volusia County, the others in Duval County.
In Volusia, officers from the state’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit arrested Marjorie Nelson, owner and operator of Helping Hands Manor I and II in Edgewater. According to the Attorney General’s office, Nelson told investigators she had not licensed the second location because upgrading the septic system and fire suppression systems would cost too much. Those upgrades were necessary to qualify for a license. Nelson is charged with operating an unlicensed assisted living facility, a third-degree felony. If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
In Duval County, officers arrested Tommy Teague and Roberto Gallegos on charges of operating an unlicensed facility at 2198 Mossbrook Court in Jacksonville. Teague and Gallegos face third-degree felony charges and could each face up to five years in prison if convicted.
At the third facility, Medicaid fraud investigators determined through a routine spot-check that Torina Brooks had exceeded the capacity of her licensed facility, Pauline’s House in Jacksonville. Brooks placed the extra clients in an unlicensed facility across the street and requested Medicaid reimbursement for their care. She faces one count of operating and/or maintaining an assisted living facility without a license, one count of Medicaid fraud and one count of grand theft, all third-degree felonies, and could face up to 15 years if convicted of all charges.
To legally and properly operate an assisted living facility in the state of Florida, there are various administrative and operational requirements which must be met. These include licensing procedures, staffing requirements, compliance with county health and local fire authority regulations and the safe management of medication by trained staff personnel.
For a searchable database of licensed assisted living facilities throughout Florida, visit Florida Senior Living Advisor. Licensing status can change, so be sure to ask for proof of licensure when visiting a facility. For more information on the Florida’s licensing process for senior living facilities, visit the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).