NEWLAND, N.C. — Dozens of residents at an assisted living center in Avery County have been moved out after sheriff deputies said The Heritage at Sugar Mountain in Newland had its license suspended this weekend.
Channel 9’s Dave Faherty spoke with workers and family members who confirmed that employees here weren’t being paid.
Two of the workers stayed to ensure residents were fed but they were not trained to provide medication.
An employee said that the state, paramedics and sheriff deputies went to The Heritage of Sugar Mountain last weekend to move people out.
All 28 residents were relocated to other facilities some as far away as Hickory.
Faherty learned from family members that some residents weren’t getting meals. Others didn’t receive their medications and at one point, McDonald’s was brought in to feed the residents.
Faherty watched family members Monday morning move items out of the building.
They told Faherty about their concerns.
“We don’t know what the status of this location is going to be,” said Kevin Holden, a family member. “But it has been a big impact on every family. Also, the Department of Social Services has had to intervene.”
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services stated, “The Heritage of Sugar Mountain presents an imminent danger to the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and that emergency action is required to protect the residents.”
State officials said that was based its decision on staffing levels and the rights of residents.
Faherty tried to contact the owner today but have not heard back.
Mark Wolfe told Faherty that his 91-year-old mother is now living in another facility in a different county.
“It’s tragic,” Wolfe said. “A sad event and I’m still alarmed that no one from the facility has called us or released any information or anything like that.”
The owner has 20 days to appeal the suspension, according to the state.
Faherty also contacted the Avery County Sheriff’s Office, and they said they are assisting the state with their investigation.
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