Senior living facility being investigated following report on termite infestation
Robert Rohan was aghast by what he saw; his mother, covered in termites in her own home. Yesterday, Jake Ingrassia first reported on the termite infestation in Seasons at Miraflores in La Quinta.
Today, a follow-up; the senior living community is now being looked into by Adult Protective Services, and Rohan couldn’t be more relieved. And the investigation couldn’t be more timely; just hours after our initial report, the infestation reared its ugly head once again.
“Mom’s place is pretty bad, ” said Rohan. “Last night when I was there they were all over again – it needs to be done, it needs to be taken care of.”
Rohan had previously taken steps to address the issue, contacting the Health Department, Code Compliance, and the community’s management. Adult Protective Services is now on the case, addressing this instance of elder abuse.
” Seems like the code enforcement would have came and at least checked it out,” Rohan said. “But it not being city owned, I understand.”
Rohan didn’t know to call Adult Protective Services, a department that helps seniors and dependent adults in situations of abuse or neglect.
Getting the help you need is as easy as picking up the phone. Adult Protective Services can be reached at (800) 491-7123. You should call even if you only suspect elder abuse — proof is not required.
Ryan Uhlenkott, deputy director of Adult Protective Services, said only one in ever 14 adult abuse cases gets reported nationally.
“We have a specially trained staff of social workers to go out and investigate not only criminal aspects of abuse and neglect but sometimes we’re looking at financial abuse, sometimes we’re looking at physical abuse,” Uhlenkott said.
“Of course it’s a horrible circumstance for someone to have been living with insects like that, but so many of our seniors don’t have loved ones, don’t have adult children who live locally,” Uhlenkott said.
Meanwhile, Rohan is grateful to have found some help.
“They’re trying to do something about it as we speak right now, and that’s a good thing,” Rohan said.
