Liability insurance cancelled at two desert residential care homes for elderly

Tuesday morning we stopped at a La Quinta home on Sunbrook Lane looking for Ramona Sykes, the owner of Sunbrook Residential Care, trying to find out if the home had liability insurance. It's a home where five patients currently live.

An employee at the door wouldn't answer the question.

Moments later, News Channel 3 was on the phone with Sykes and her husband Ronald who claimed their La Quinta home and another home they operate in Palm Desert do have liability insurance.

Yet they would not provide documentation to support their claim.

They also said they were selling the business but would not comment further.

A report filed a week ago by the California Department of Social Services is what is raising questions about their insurance coverage.

According to the department's "Facility Evaluation Report", Ramona Sykes informed state officials that liability insurance coverage at the La Quinta home was dropped January 9th.

The report also indicates the home they operate on Romanza Lane in Palm Desert also had it's liability insurance cancelled January 9th.

Mandy Calvano, owner of Palm Desert-based Custom Care Solutions, a provider of in-home care for seniors, says insurance is the "most important part of the business".

"To me, if you can't have insurance, if you are not qualified, or able to get it, then something is wrong because insurance is out there," said Calvano.

The state report does not include a reason for the cancelled insurance policies.

Buit it does document the alleged murder that happened at the Sunbrook Residential Care home on Parkway Esplanade in La Quinta last November.

According to the report, Sykes was assessed a $500 civil penalty as a result of the death.

We asked the state department of social services whether Sunbrook Residential Care does have liability insurance for the two homes they are still operating.

The written answer from the department stated in part, "the licensee is required to obtain liability insurance within the next 30 days".

If not, Sunbrook Residential Care could face further action by the state.