Wildwood Canyon Villa, a San Bernardino County residential care facility, faces seemingly endless allegations of elder abuse and regulatory violations. The latest elder abuse under investigation involves denying a resident her right to phone calls.
Licensing regulations state that residential care facility residents have the right to make and receive telephone calls. 22 CCR 87468(a)(14) states:
To have reasonable access to telephones, to both make and receive confidential calls.
On July 8, 2010, Wildwood Canyon Villa confiscated Jean Swope’s cell phone after Jean called her daughter for help. On July 9, 2010, Assistant Director Lori Valdepena told the daughter, [Jean Swope] is to have no phone calls and no visitors. For several months, family wondered if Jean was alive or dead.
Portions of Wildwood’s Call Logs and Tenant Service Notes were obtained pursuant to subpoena. Those documents confirm ongoing denial of phone calls from July 2010 through November 2010.
7/30/2010: [Jean’s sister] asked is this one of Mindy’s things where [Jean] can’t talk to anyone.
7/31/2010: [Jean’s sister] called to talk to Jean. Stated she had already spoken to Mindy. She just wants to tell [Jean] she loves her. WB (LVN Wendy Barrera)
8/4/2010: [Jean’s sister] called @8:25 am. She wanted to speak to Jean and know who is responsible for her not being able to speak to Jean. She asked if it was Mindy or Lynnette? WB (LVN Wendy Barrera)
8/5/2010: Read her new Service Plan as well as the memo in front of the MC Deskbook regarding who can call and speak with her. WB (LVN Wendy Barrera)
8/11/2010: [Jean’s significant other]. I explained to him that he is not on the list (authorized) to speak w/ Jean. He then said are you sure I’m not on the list. I then told him yes. TC
8/12/2010: [Jean’s daughter] called wanting to speak w/ Jean. I informed [Jean’s daughter] that she was not on the list of persons authorized to speak to Jean Swope. TC
8/13/2010: [Jean’s niece] called – wanted to speak with her and I informed her that she was to speak with Mindy in regards to being able to talk w/ Jean. TC
Wildwood did not produce Call Logs for 8/17/2010 through 11/16/2010.
11/17/2010: [Jean’s significant other] phoned to speak w/ Jean and I informed him that [Jean’s daughter] is the only one to speak w/ Jean until we hear otherwise from the courts. TC
11/17/2010: [Jean’s sister] called and wanted to speak to Jean – informed her that we still haven’t received word if anyone else can phone besides [Jean’s daughter]. TC
In 2010, Department of Social Services cited Wildwood for violating Jean Swope’s right to visitation. Jean was denied visitation with her loved ones for fifteen months.
In 2011, Department of Social Services cited Wildwood for requiring Jean to sleep on a mattress on the floor. Jean's bed was a mattress directly on the floor for eighteen months.
In 2012, Department of Social Services cited Wildwood for safety violations, including oxygen bottles blocking a doorway. Jean Swope’s family sued for elder abuse and intentional infliction of emotional distress. David Forbes’ daughter sued for elder abuse and wrongful death. Forbes’ catheter was blocked for two days, causing Forbes to suffer excruciating pain followed by death from urosepsis.
In 2013, Executive Director Lynnette Alvarado will be required to give her deposition on elder abuse and licensing violations at Wildwood Canyon Villa. Assistant Director Lori Valdepena and Memory Care Nurse Candace Hull, LVN will also be required to testify concerning their involvement in elder abuse at Wildwood.
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