Report: Filthy adult care home littered with urine-soaked clothes
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PUYALLUP, Wash. -- State inspectors say the South View Adult Care home in Puyallup had urine soaked clothing and smelled of animal waste in recent visits.
It is home to at least four men, and some are developmentally disabled.
Owner Wendy Bell is facing fines, but told the KOMO 4 Problem Solvers that the state is lying about the claims.
"A lot of it's garbage. It's little stuff," Bell said.
Last month's inspection report found problems with background checks, medication logs, Medicaid payments and big concerns over "potentially unsanitary conditions."
Bell denies those claims and said she only had to put new flooring in, but "other than that, everything was okay."
Inspectors noted a "risk for diminished quality of life and potentially unsanitary conditions" because of "animal odors and waste," pointing out wet urine stains on the carpet.
Bell denies that as well.
"I had it professional cleaned three different times," she said.
Inspectors also say they found "urine soaked clothing" in a bedroom. Again, Bell denied it and said the inspectors were lying.
She also denied that the issues raised in the reports had happened before.
Yet the Problem Solvers found state reports showing problems as early as 2009, with "animal urine and feces" concerns in 2011.
After that, the home was temporarily banned from taking new residents. Bell did let us inside but we could only take cell phone photos.
Animals were running around and Bell said she owns ten dogs. The carpet appears worn, with some stains.
Bell says she's making changes inside and out -- and says the state is simply too harsh.
"They've lost the object of what adult family homes are all about," she said.
Bell does face fines for the home. She also has been asked to update progress. Those fines amount to $200.
It is home to at least four men, and some are developmentally disabled.
Owner Wendy Bell is facing fines, but told the KOMO 4 Problem Solvers that the state is lying about the claims.
"A lot of it's garbage. It's little stuff," Bell said.
Last month's inspection report found problems with background checks, medication logs, Medicaid payments and big concerns over "potentially unsanitary conditions."
Bell denies those claims and said she only had to put new flooring in, but "other than that, everything was okay."
Inspectors noted a "risk for diminished quality of life and potentially unsanitary conditions" because of "animal odors and waste," pointing out wet urine stains on the carpet.
Bell denies that as well.
"I had it professional cleaned three different times," she said.
Inspectors also say they found "urine soaked clothing" in a bedroom. Again, Bell denied it and said the inspectors were lying.
She also denied that the issues raised in the reports had happened before.
Yet the Problem Solvers found state reports showing problems as early as 2009, with "animal urine and feces" concerns in 2011.
After that, the home was temporarily banned from taking new residents. Bell did let us inside but we could only take cell phone photos.
Animals were running around and Bell said she owns ten dogs. The carpet appears worn, with some stains.
Bell says she's making changes inside and out -- and says the state is simply too harsh.
"They've lost the object of what adult family homes are all about," she said.
Bell does face fines for the home. She also has been asked to update progress. Those fines amount to $200.
10 dogs and five people in that small a house.. COME on.. I am sorry but the elderly taking care of the elderly sounds like a recipe for disaster... what do the families of her residents say.. if they are even around....? |  Seriously just another reason I do not want to live once I lose control of my ability to care for myself... to me there is no benefit to living like that!
@Freespeech Keep in mind most adult family homes are not ran this way. I have been to a couple AFH's that i wish I could live in, beautiful home and furnishings, very very clean, wonderful caregivers who treat you like family, and wonderful meals.Â
ZERO TOLERANCE AND THERE IS NO ROOM FOR HER CRAP!!! SHE IS TASTELESS< STUPID< FILTHY AND HOW DEAR SHE PUT THESE PEOPLE THROUGH HELL!!! DO WE STAND BY AND TURN A BLIND EYE????
SHUT HER DOWN!!!
Year we all heard....Now shut the Bit#$78ch down!!
She'd probably accuse the county/city of coming down on her too, even though she has too many animals. Â Puyallup allows 5 pets per household. Period. Â http://puyallup.patch.com/articles/puyallup-pet-owners-face-new-laws-reduced-fines
She is making good money taking care of those adults, whether it's Medicaid or private funds. Â She is being paid to protect them and she needs to follow the law. Â
why would the State make this up? she needs to find a different source of income ...
@jonhumbert I can't believe you got her on camera! That's truly a job well done! And horrific!
@reidwegs We're working more on this story too. Concerns about the number of animals present. At least 12 that we saw.
@jonhumbert that doesn't sound like a safe living environment for anyone. 10 dogs? Can't wait to see the follow up to this.
@jonhumbert This is one of many of these homes in this shape, run like this. When you find homes like these, they are usually full of DD or head-injured or mentally ill State-paid residents. If you were to interview State social workers who place these types of patients, then track all these patients down in the homes they reside in, you'd find the majority are similar.
Interestingly, each one of these men have a social worker through the state who is their case manager. I can almost guarantee they are all on State assistance (Medicaid). The SW's are supposed to update their assessments regularly. So, they can not be in the dark about the conditions. But where do they place these types of patients?Â
This story is the tip of a large underwater glacier.
@jonhumbert That is absolutely ridiculous!
@jonhumbert having been schooled in the fine art of caregiving I can attest that a situation like that is simply not sustainable.
@reidwegs One woman appears to be taking care of 4 developmentally disabled men, 10 dogs and 2 cats.
@reidwegs Looks like she's made some progress, but it really didn't seem to bother her that the problems happened *in the first place.*
No one needs to own 10 dogs. Â This woman clearly has mental issues of her own and should not be caring for anyone else.
Too many of our elderly citizens live in deplorable conditions. The state should issue an order prohibiting this woman from running any facility. Does she have a kennel license? It looks like she is a hoarder, and the dogs could not be in very good health if there is urine and fecal material all over her house. So sad!
She's getting up in age herself! The anger and denial she's presenting, maybe she should be evaluated for early dementia? That many dogs in one house has to be a big red flag alone. I understand that having a small animal or two is comforting to the elderly/disabled and would be welcome in an adult family home, but not TEN of them. I can also see where she'd be pulling up the carpet and putting down some form of hard flooring just to prevent more of these "allegations" from touching her.Â
I can't say that I'd want her providing for my family members just based on her attitude and that many animals in the home. It can't be a good situation for the residents!
She is in this business for the money. Â Unfortunately, she doesn't look at the elderly or disabled as human beings. If she hired help, cleaned the place and offered quality care, she could earn a decent living, and have her dogs.
This woman should be barred from ever providing care for any one! This is disgusting, and I doubt very much that the state is lying. And where are her client's families in all this? Isn't keeping ten dogs inside with disabled or elderly adults a bit much?Â
My elderly mom, who has Azlheimer's, is in an Adult Family Home. It is spotless, she receives the best care one could imagine, and I visit her frequently. Â But people like Wendy Bell should be closed down. Period.
@Gnirk You are so right. And the spotless, well-run homes don't make news.
So the state is lying on all counts......why would they have it in for this facility? Ten dogs is way too many.......she needs help.
Seriously, who needs 10 dogs? Especially when it is your job to take care of people who need help taking care of themselves?
Definitely looks dirty but not to a newsworthy extent.Â
Robert Swifts place was WAY worse.Â
Does the state not set some type of a limit on how many dogs/animals you can have if you run a care facility such as this or even a daycare?
@tkyed No. They are set up likes homes. Those moving in know in advance what they're getting. Many are owner operated and they have their family there. Some with small children too. Not all are this way by a long shot. Just answering your question.
A place to die. Yuck.
"they've lost the object of what adult family homes are all about"
what, exactly, do YOU think they are about, you crazy woman? the inspectors lied about everything, huh? what a piece of garbage she is- the poor folks "living" there ....
You either have pets or you have a care home, you can't have both! Ugh I feel so bad for both the animals and the people in this facility. Some people shouldn't be allowed to run facilities like these. This is the second time in a few weeks that I have read about adult care homes not performing properly. First one, if some of you recall is about the woman who keeps coming over to a families home and ringing/knocking at their door and the care facility lying about when this woman is out and about.Â
Na na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye.....
Sad, these places owned by ignorant people give the good homes a bad name.Â
These badly run homes are allowed to exist though because they are a necessary evil. 'Why?' you ask...
 1. There are a large number of patients out there that no other facilities will take. For example, young, head-injured, State-pay males with violence problems. Or, any State-paid residents with significant behavior problems - abusive, yelling 24/7, etc.Â
2. When mentally ill were "re-integrated" into society, they were not welcome in most facilities. Including many nursing homes. None of these places are able or set up to deal with these types. Their laws are extremely strict as to restraints and chemical restraints, whereas hospitals' and mental hospitals' governing laws are more lax.Â
3. Many of the residents have no money, no family and no advocates to speak of, other than over-worked and inattentive guardians (don't get me wrong, not all guardians are this way) and they place them wherever they can find someone willing to take hard cases.Â
The State turns a somewhat blind eye because their hands are tied due to a seriously flawed system that has huge cracks.Â
This is no excuse for these places to exist, but I guarantee that if they do close her down, they will have a hard time placing many of her residents.Â
Sad all the way around. And I know many homes out there are excellent and many people have had loved ones in the good ones and can attest to that.@Thunder"I guarantee that if they do close her down, they will have a hard time placing many of her residents. "
Big sigh. Quite right.
@Thunder good comment. thanks
I meant to say "...NOT able or set up to deal with these types". Sorry, didn't catch it.
I must say she really isn't a good liar. At least she doesn't have me believing here. I've seen better liars on other related stories.
Ten dogs....in an adult care facility? The poor residents there. :( Â Hopefully she gets it all in order, but doubtful, considering she claims the inspectors came in and made up a bunch of lies... several times, for 4 years.Â
10 dogs?!Â
@Hadrian With 10 dogs, when does she have time to take care of the residents she's being paid to care for?
@Mamasauras @Hadrian those poor dogs and very good question