WILKES-BARRE -- One day after the Pennsylvania Attorney General announced legal action against some nursing homes, the company still has not responded with a comment. But that hasn't stopped people from telling us what's going on inside.
The Golden LivingCenter-Summit facility on North Pennsylvania Avenue in Wilkes-Barre is one of 14 facilities named in a lawsuit filed Wednesday by the state attorney general, citing poor conditions and low levels of staffing.
Choosing the right facility to place a loved one is an important decision. But for Robert Montone, sending his mom to the Golden LivingCenter-Summit facility in Wilkes-Barre was a decision he regrets.
The nursing home is one of 14 Golden LivingCenters in the state involved in an investigation with the attorney general's office and legal action is now being taken.
"My mom was sent there in February after she had a major stroke to get rehab," said Montone.
He says he found out the senior care center was not feeding his mom proper meals and not giving her the medical attention she needed when she asked for help, so he pulled her out of the nursing home weeks after she got admitted.
"It's upsetting! How I'm still standing without a heart attack myself is beyond me!"
"I didn't like it," said Ray Gallagher. "It wasn't a very good place. You know, you see people in the hallway drooling on themselves, all dirty."
Gallagher's family also ended up pulling out his mother-in-law for her own safety.
But the attorney general's actions aren't the first warnings about this and other Golden LivingCenters. Newswatch 16 obtained records showing low staffing and poor safety measures.
Records from medicare.gov show the Summit facility has a higher number of residents than the national average, but a lower number of licensed nurse staff. We also found records that show the Summit facility has a higher number of fire safety deficiencies than the national average.
That surprises Lisa Zubritsky of Nanticoke whose husband is in the Summit facility.
"The people here have been wonderful to him. They give him attention, they talk, they explain things to him," said Zubritsky.
Montone worries big senior living chains like Golden Living may put profits before people.
"It's like an assembly line. Believe me, all they're worried about is how much money can we get."
Newswatch 16 received the following statement from Travis Martin, with Golden LivingCenter:
"Golden Living is confident that claims made by the Attorney General are baseless and wholly without merit. No doubt, this is an unfortunate result of Kathleen Kane's inappropriate and questionable relationship with a Washington, DC-based plaintiff's firm that preys on legitimate businesses and is paid by contingency fees. Golden Living also believes that this complaint is in retaliation for our challenging the Attorney General's authority in a pending lawsuit. We plan to vigorously defend the reputation of Golden Living and its employees."
If you or your family has been victim, the attorney general's office would like to hear from you.