Highland Assisted Living Center

DO NOT even consider this assisted living facility as an option for your loved one. First of all, Azzy and Paula Reckless no longer own this facility-Azzy and Paula are wonderful, caring owners to the residents and staff of the facilities that they do own. Highland Assisted Living, also known as Village View, 1 Grove St. Highland, NY 12528, 845-691- 8399, RN Administrator Sherri Brittain, Owners: Issaic and Steven and It is filthy, run down, constantly infested with bugs, mold throughout the building, especially the kitchen where resident's food is prepared, there are diabetics that are improperly cared for to the point of swelling that causes open wounds and no wound care treatment, residents that are extremely disabled, physically and psychiatric, including severe dementia, that need a higher level of care and have rooms with direct access to unlocked exits to outside of the facility and have been found lost and wandering around the streets, sometimes walking in the middle of a busy highway. There are residents that require nursing home attention and/or specialty care and are neglected. RN Administrator of the facility does not seem to have any knowledge of common geriatric illnesses, does not investigate concerns or complaints by staff or residents. There have been unexplained marks, cuts and burns on residents that have been unexplained and disregard. Residents that have required sudden emergency assistance have waited up to 6 hours before 911 was called. There are residents that are wheelchair bound and physically CANNOT transfer on there own, they are not informed on medical illnesses or medications even when they have questioned their own health/meds, are not showered/bathed, are made to sit in urine- soaked diapers and clothes because the staff will wait until bedtime as to only have to change them once. Staff is not informed about resident's communicable diseased/viruses/infections, residents leave the facility to drink alcohol heavily, return known to be very intoxicated and still given heavy duty narcotic medications by medication staff, there are "medication techs" alone in the med room that are not even certified to dispense medication. Staff that have voiced concerns are either disregard or eventually terminated. There has recently been 2 deaths at that facility which could have been possibly avoided if administration had investigated some staff concerns on those residents, which they did not. 6 month re-certs are not done, care plans have not been updated, medical records including current diagnoses, illnesses and medications are never updated, which is why a resident that needs to go to an ER has to wait for the RN to actually find and update the records on that individual so the facility does not get cited. DOH has failed them numerous times, but allowed time to "correct" the citations, which is basically destroying and/or hiding info and documents. The facility uses a run down, sewage filled, water damaged, ant, spider, bedbug, rodent and sick stray animal infested house on the owner's property for storage of confidential records and documents, resident belongings and resident food that is actually then served to them. This "storage" is unknown to the NYS DOH. Residents who have contacted the ommbudsman have been reprimanded and then intimidated into taking back any complaint or question. Resident finances are mishandled, residents that have over the $2000.00 allowable to be kept in their facility financial account mysteriously disappear, and strangely turns up in a private facility account and the only records of that are at the main office, PSJJ Management, 28 Whispering Willows Rd. New Jersey. Petty cash and company credit cards are mishandled by the administrator, has put certain employees in the position to pay out of pocket for facility costs-without reimbursement. One employee put out close to $1000.00 for facility necessities when administrator unexpectedly took a leave of absence-with all of the petty cash, and the employee was then never reimbursed. Aby employees that were required to use their own vehicles for any sort of driving for the job was not given gas reimbursement, yet there were plenty of gas receipts for personal gas use by the administrator, who rarely drove for the facility. There are so many awful, cruel, disgusting things that go on at this facility and it's appalling that it has been allowed to continue, and how DOH waits for the facility to fix there citations before there final report just because the Operations Director, Owners and Administrator have "understandings" and "certain relationships" with DOH investigators that do the annual inspections. Employees are underpaid, some overworked due to the downright laziness and disregard for human life of other employees. In 1 week, about a year ago, I witnesses an employee commit at least 6 serious violations that had put residents in either immediate or potentially immediate discomfort and/or danger. There are some resident rooms in which the resident, if in bed, has no access to their emergency alarm. In one incident, a resident with known dementia and walking disabilities was moved from his first floor room to an upstairs room. When tried to use the staircase, had a bad fall, was not properly examined, 911 was not called. The resident was then bed bound due to pain due to broken ribs and was not sent to an ER for 4 days. The facility is run under the agency "Golden Care," which has recently been under the "Legal Notice" section of the newspaper, under investigation. PLEASE, if you care about anyone who needs assisted living, not only do not even waste your time even calling, but also inform others who inquire about this place.

by Verified visitor, Oct 2011