New report details serious violations at south Charlotte assisted living facility

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new state report reveals serious problems at a south Charlotte assisted living facility.

Channel 9′s Mark Becker has been following North Carolina’s investigations into Charlotte Square Capital Senior Living on Carmel Road for months. He read through the state’s new 150-page report and said the issues run deep and raise questions about the care and wellbeing of the facility’s residents.

Kristin White told Becker she moved her mother into the facility 14 months ago.

She said her mother was diagnosed with cancer in August and ended up in the hospital in February after falling. She said she contacted the state to report the incident and an investigation was launched.

Now, the state has released a report that lists a series of issues at the facility, including two that are categorized as “A violations,” which are the most serious because they could result in death or serious injury to a resident.

According to the report, after White’s mom fell, a paramedic told investigators he found her in bed lying in feces and urine. He also reportedly said he saw dried feces on her bed sheets.

When she went to the emergency room, a doctor noted that staff believed she had a fever but no one took her temperature, which turned out to be 101.6, according to the report.

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The report also states that in March, a physical therapist saw a resident in her nightgown wandering in the parking lot. A few minutes later they reportedly found her climbing an embankment next to the street.

Investigators said the facility had a frequent shortage of staffing and training. According to the report, at least one staffer had complained about the staffing shortage, but was told to “Just do the best you can.”

In the end, the report points directly at the former administrator for failing to ensure the overall management and operation of the facility.

“I was heartbroken,” said Lauren Zingraff who leads an organization that advocates for residents of long-term care. “It was a very upsetting report.”

Zingraff said the report is stunning.

“This is highly unusual,” she said. “This is not standard to have a report --a violation-- at a facility that is this egregious.

Charlotte Square has changed management since our first report two months ago and White has moved her mother out, but she is still concerned about what she read in the report.

“Yes, this is about my mother, but this is larger, this is about the people who are there,” she said. “I am shining a spotlight on what has occurred and to say how do we influence change? How do we make sure change has occurred?”

Channel 9 reached out to the facility’s parent company, Capitol Senior Living, and received the following response:

“After learning of the concerns, Capital Senior Living sent in a regional team to assess and respond. We have submitted a plan of correction to the state of North Carolina and continue to work with state officials.”

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