197608283-9-20-2024-29-AS-KLOZ-D9LT8X-20240930143104

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197608283
Report Date: 09/20/2024
Date Signed: 09/20/2024 02:35:52 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
WOODLAND HILLS N.ASC, 21731 VENTURA BLVD. #250
WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
09/05/2024 and conducted by Evaluator Sandra Urena

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 29-AS-20240905191311

FACILITY NAME:	HILLTOP HAVEN 2		FACILITY NUMBER:	197608283
ADMINISTRATOR:	ERWIN DUFFELS		FACILITY TYPE:	740
ADDRESS:	6531 GLORIA AVENUE		TELEPHONE:	(818) 474-9671
CITY:	LAKE BALBOA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	91406
CAPACITY:	6	CENSUS: 3	DATE:	09/20/2024
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	02:19 PM
MET WITH:	Cathy Harris		TIME COMPLETED:	02:50 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff pressured a resident with declining health and competency to make a financial deal for their personal gain.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Sandra Urena conducted a subsequent unannounced visit to deliver the findings for the allegation listed above. The LPA arrived at the facility and met with the Administrator Cathy Harris. The LPA informed them of the reason for the visit.

On 09/11/2024, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Sandra Urena conducted an initial 10-day unannounced visit to investigate the allegation listed above. The LPA arrived at the facility and met with the Licensee Tom Stiles. The LPA informed them of the reason for the visit. At 11:45 a.m., the LPA interviewed the Licensee and requested records pertinent to the investigation. The LPA interviewed the Reporting Party (RP) on 09/09/2024 at approximately 10:48 a.m., acquaintances on 09/11/2024 from approximately 10:35 a.m. to 11:28 a.m., POA on 09/17/2024 at approximately 11:15 a.m.
Continues on LIC 9099C...

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Kasandra Lopez	TELEPHONE: (818) 596-4343
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sandra Urena	TELEPHONE: 747-230-3919
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/20/2024

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/20/2024

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 29-AS-20240905191311

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
WOODLAND HILLS N.ASC, 21731 VENTURA BLVD. #250
WOODLAND HILLS, CA 91364

FACILITY NAME: HILLTOP HAVEN 2	FACILITY NUMBER: 197608283
	VISIT DATE: 09/20/2024

NARRATIVE

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Staff pressured a resident with declining health and competency to make a financial deal for their personal gain.

On the allegation that Staff pressured a resident with declining health and competency to make a financial deal for their personal gain, the reporting party’s (RP) concern is that the facility staff conducted themselves in an unethical manner by trying to coerce resident (R1) into a financial agreement with the facility staff. The RP stated that there was nothing in writing to document the coercion of the financial deal, that the coercion was done verbally. The LPA could not interview (R1), since R1 is no longer residing at the facility. To investigate the allegation, LPA Urena interviewed the Reporting Party (RP) on 09/09/2024. The RP’s interview revealed that on at least two different occasions (May 2023 and summer of 2023), staff made unethical financial proposals to R1, while R1 was residing at the facility. R1 told the RP that the Administrator offered R1 to live for the rest of their life at the facility, if R1 made a financial investment with the facility staff and gave all of their financial assets to the facility staff. At the time of the financial proposals (2023), the RP stated that R1 was declining in health, and could not make competent decisions. The RP’s report stated that R1 is now suffering from the effects of Parkinson's disease, is highly suggestible and has no reasoning skills. R1 hallucinates and rambles nonsense now.

The LPA interviewed the Administrator, and they denied attempting to make financial deals with (R1) or pressuring them to make a financial deal for their personal gain. The Administrator stated that they often took R1 on outings (medical appointments, and lunch). On the day they went out to see properties, the administrator stated that they and another staff were talking about seeing some properties, and that R1 overheard them, and asked if R1 could go with them, and the administrator said, “yes”. However, the administrator denied making any financial offers to R1.

On 09/14/2024, the LPA interviewed the Power of Attorney (medical POA) for R1. The POA stated that they were not aware of any coercion or financial deals being offered to R1. The POA stated that they spoke almost every day with R1, and R1 would have said something to them had such offer had been made by the staff. Furthermore, the POA stated that R1 liked being at the facility and liked the licensee and staff very much. POA stated that R1 was transferred to another facility to be closer to the POA.

Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, based on the interviews, there is not sufficient evidence to prove that Staff pressured the resident to make a financial deal for their personal gain. Therefore, the allegation is deemed Unsubstantiated at this time.

Interview exit was conducted. A copy of the report was issued.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Kasandra Lopez	TELEPHONE: (818) 596-4343
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sandra Urena	TELEPHONE: 747-230-3919
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 09/20/2024

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/20/2024

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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