State Moves To Close Hot Springs Elder Care Facility

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The Arkansas Dept. of Human Services filed a petition last week seeking a court order to gain access to Lakeside Residential Care in Hot Springs, saying it has received reports that the facility is operating without a license, lacks air conditioning and has a bed bug problem.

The division of provider services and quality assurance, office of long-term care of Arkansas DHS said in the petition filed Friday that state inspectors were booted from the property on July 26 by the owner of the Lakeside. Investigators were responding to reports from first responders and state and county officials who were concerned about Lakeside’s operations at addresses in the 100 block of Stanage Terrace, the petition said.

When a residential inspector visited the property July 27, they were reportedly told by the manager that approximately 20 people were living at the facility, according to an affidavit prepared by the inspector. The manager referred the inspector to the owner, Jay Johnson, who told the inspector to leave the property over a phone call.

The inspectors were able to speak to three individuals who were outside at the time of the July 27 site visit. All allegedly confirmed they were receiving some form of disability payment from social security. Two of the residents allegedly reported that the facility has a problem with bed bugs.

The inspector noted that the facility includes several apartment units.

“The facility itself looked rundown and unsafe,” the affidavit said. “One apartment had a missing step. I also noticed broken windows in multiple apartments. One apartment appeared to have been destroyed by a fire.”

The inspectors further observed exposed wiring in the ceiling of the laundry room, torn and broken flooring in two apartments and holes in the wall of one apartment, according to the affidavit.

DHS is asking a Garland County circuit court for an order granting inspectors immediate access to the facility. The agency is also asking the court to order local law enforcement to assist and for an order “that any operations of a long-term care facility at the locations shall immediately cease operations until DHS has been permitted to enter and inspect the facility.”