A personal-care home operator in Jackson, Mississippi will spend time behind bars for neglect and operating without a license.
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood announced that the operator, Helen Page, pleaded guilty to 15 counts of misdemeanor neglect of vulnerable persons in her care and one count of operating without a license earlier this month. By entering an open plea, Page rejected the state’s recommendation and threw herself at the mercy of the court.
She was sentenced to one year imprisonment, a $10,000 fine and court costs of $289. She was immediately taken into custody. The Judge also issued an order for the Health Department to relocate the vulnerable persons still in the care of Page to appropriately licensed facilities.
Operated out of a three-bedroom house
According to Hood, Page operated a personal care home in a small residence. When investigators went to the address, he said they found 16 individuals residing in a three bedroom home.
All suffered from various mental health diagnoses and had been shut up and locked in the structure without ability to escape in the event of an emergency. They were left unattended for long periods of time.
Under Mississippi law any governmental or private institution for the aged or infirmed that provides group living arrangements for four or more persons who are unrelated to the operator and who are being provided food, shelter and personal care, whether such place is organized or operated for profit or not, must be licensed by the State Department of Health (DOH).
No license
Page’s personal care home was not licensed and Page had been issued cease and desist orders by the DOH on two occasions prior to the investigation,” Hood said.
“Unfortunately, there are many illegally run personal care homes throughout the State,” Hood said. “In these type cases, the owners will often keep moving locations to avoid being caught, all so they can collect the victims SSI checks which average $550 to $600 a month. We’re doing our best to catch them and put them out of business.”
Jacqueline Folwell (Fri, 19 Aug 2011 22:54:18 +0000): Cease and decist never good enough. Force closing. No excuse of any kind for abuse or neglect. Where were their families during this? They are just as guilty! 1 year and fine Not God Enough! These Are Preditors and should be treated as such.
Sid Ann Sweet (Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:56:05 +0000): This so unfornate, and its what scares me about my future.
Marsha Harden (Tue, 13 Sep 2011 10:30:09 +0000): My mom was in & out of nursing homes & hospitals for 4 months. I can tell you even the best nursing homes have some serious issues.
Elizabeth Rieder (Fri, 26 Aug 2011 15:23:08 +0000): one of the reasons I am very much in favor of in home care for elderly. With a little planning and help from homecare agencies most people can live out their lives in some sort of home enviroment. we have so many people who can give tender loving care to elderly in the patients homes. family have to realize that mom wiped their butts for years and now she needs alittle help. She or he is family and we don't dump family in one of these hell holes just because we are busy. If you do, may your sleep be nightmare and the guilt follow you till your last breath. Me? I am 75 and hope to stay in my own apt.for many years, I may need some assistance later , but while I have all my marbles I am planning and checking out things that will assist me when I can not do for my self. My two sons , one near and one at a distances check on me and I have a phone and computer to check in with them when I want to.There are adult sitting services in many cities for those who have mentally gone over the edge and safty features that are not too expensive. So if you don't have time to care for mom, get your head together and figure out something to help you know that in the evening when you get home , mom is safe and happy surrounded by her books and sewing and pictures of you in your birthday suit, yes that is her faviorite.
We are family!