ROCKWOOD, Tenn. — Victorian Square Assisted Living in Rockwood has had its license suspended by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission on March 8, the board said.
This suspension was due to a culmination of multiple violations within the facility, including failing to maintain essential services. Some of these services include electricity, water, gas, proper disposal of biohazardous materials and pest control.
"These conditions were determined to present a substantial imminent risk to the resident’s health, safety, and welfare," the Health Facilities Commission said.
According to a report summary from the commission, Victorian Square's license, which has been active since 1999, was set to expire on April 6 of this year.
However, on Feb. 26, the board said it received a notice from Rockwood Electric Utility that said the facility's electric services would be terminated on March 30 due to a lack of payment. The amount owed to Rockwood Electric at the end of February was $36,546, according to the report.
Two days later, on Feb. 28, the board received a notice from the Rockwood Water, Sewer and Gas board that said its services to Victorian Square would also be turned off on March 30 due to non-payment. The total amount owed to Rockwood Water, Sewer and Gas was $35,985 according to the summary of suspension.
The report said the commission surveyors entered the assisted living facility around Feb. 21 and pest control services had also been discontinued due to lack of payments, with bed bugs in several rooms of the facility. Biohazard disposal had also been discontinued due to non-payment with hazardous material being stored in various places around Victorian Square.
"Respondent's license as an assisted care living facility is hereby summarily suspended, with the suspension stayed," the report said. "The license will be placed on probation, the effective date of this order."
After the effective removal of the facility's license, the transfer of its residents began immediately. One of the requirements from the commission, along with many others, was for Victorian Square to provide daily calls with the Health Facilities Commission.
"We have formed a resident transfer team consisting of the Bureau of TennCare, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, the Department of Intellectual Disabilities, State Long Term Care Ombudsman and district long-term care ombudsmen, which is working diligently on placement efforts for residents," the board said.
With the closure of Victorian Square, the facility was given a list of 17 orders it must follow after the closure and during the transfer of patients, according to the report.
The board said as of Wednesday, 41 out of 56 residents had been transferred to new homes.
"Of the 15 remaining residents, HFC is committed to working with our partners and other long-term care providers to safely rehome each resident," the Health Facilities Board said.
WBIR reached out to Victorian Square Assisted Living, but as of Wednesday night has not received any comments.