306004192-5-1-2025-22-AS-APAO-DK44V9-20250730192559

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 306004192
Report Date: 05/01/2025
Date Signed: 05/01/2025 05:08:59 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE COUNTY RO, 770 THE CITY DR., SUITE 7100
ORANGE, CA 92868

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
04/24/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Jenifer Tirre

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 22-AS-20250424102452

FACILITY NAME:	WHITTEN HEIGHTS ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE		FACILITY NUMBER:	306004192
ADMINISTRATOR:	STEVE SHEN		FACILITY TYPE:	740
ADDRESS:	200 WEST WHITTIER BLVD.		TELEPHONE:	(562) 691-1200
CITY:	LA HABRA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	90631
CAPACITY:	196	CENSUS: 120	DATE:	05/01/2025
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	07:00 AM
MET WITH:	Steven Shen, Executive Director		TIME COMPLETED:	05:15 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff are not serving residents food free from contamination
Due to lack of training, staff did not ensure that residents' dietary needs are met

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Jenifer Tirre conducted an unannounced inspection visit to deliver findings for complaint investigation LPA explained the reason for the visit with Executive Director Steve Shen.

During the course of the investigation LPA toured facility, reviewed records, conducted staff and resident interviews, made visual observations and requested pertinent documentation such as Physician’s reports, Admission Agreements, weekly menu, alternative menu, special orders list, Resident alert record and menu needs list.
During investigation LPA reviewed facility records for Resident 1 (R1). Record reviews revealed the following: Special orders list states that R1 is lactose intolerant and R1 is not to have: Pork/ processed food or spicy food. This special order was provided to kitchen staff and listed in both English and Spanish for staff reference. Resident Alert Record which is discussed upon move in to facility also states that R1 is lactose intolerant (no milk, almond milk only), no pork or processed meat and no spicy foods. The Menu Needs List which was CONTINUED ON 9099C

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Lourdes Montoya
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Jenifer Tirre
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/01/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/01/2025

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 22-AS-20250424102452

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
ORANGE COUNTY RO, 770 THE CITY DR., SUITE 7100
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: WHITTEN HEIGHTS ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE	FACILITY NUMBER: 306004192
	VISIT DATE: 05/01/2025

NARRATIVE

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provided by R1’s family states that R1 can have the following: Beverages- 1/2/cup coke, coffee, cranberry juice or water. Menu needs list states that for Breakfast- wheat toast, scrambled egg/ Omelets with potatoes or French toast and for Lunch/Dinner-1/2 bowl of soup, tender chicken beef or fish. Pasta with meat sauce. Sandwich with wheat bread with tuna, turkey or chicken salad. Rice, mashed potatoes, tater tots, peas and carrots. On menu needs list it states No pork, sausage, hot dogs or string beans. No ice cream, milk, pudding, yogurt or tapioca. R1’s physician’s report dated 9/2/2022, is not marked on special diet section. Staff records revealed that cooks at facility all have to maintain a strict “clean as you go” policy, utilize sound food handling practices for the storage and preparation for each menu item and coordinate in checking the next day food production needs, pull and thawing frozen items in a timely manner.

Based off interviews with staff, seven of seven staff stated that facility has a Special Diet Needs list posted inside kitchen area for kitchen staff to review while prepping and serving meals to residents. Interviews with staff state that Special Diet needs list get updated whenever a resident is new to facility or if there is a change noted by doctors order. Interviews with Facility cooks state that two of two cooks stated that food is prepped fresh same day, facility rarely uses frozen foods, food and supplies are washed prior to cooks preparing meals for residents. Seven of Seven staff interviewed stated that no residents have gotten sick or had food poisoning due to meals at facility. Interviews with residents stated that five of five residents stated they liked the food served to them at facility, states that they get the option to pick their breakfast and can exercise changes in meals. All resident interviews were conducted with residents who have special diet needs and all residents interviewed stated they have never gotten sick as a result of the food they have eaten at facility.

During investigation, LPA Tirre made the following observations:

Kitchen staff were wearing gloves while handling food. Floors & tables were cleaned during visit. During tour of kitchen LPA Tirre observed special diet needs list posted inside kitchen area near tray service for staff. LPA observed R1 listed on Special Diets list. LPA observed perishable and nonperishable foods. Foods were observed to be fresh in nature, no mold or expired dates. Food was plastic wrapped and sealed inside kitchen fridges. LPA did not observe any cross contamination or seen any “rotten” foods being served.

Based off records review, interviews and observations LPA Tirre is unable to corroborate allegations made that Staff are not serving residents food free from contamination and Due to lack of training staff did not ensure that residents' dietary needs are met therefore although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur, therefore the above allegations are deemed UNSUBSTANTIATED.

An exit interview was conducted with Executive Director Steve Shen and a copy of this report was provided during this visit.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Lourdes Montoya
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Jenifer Tirre
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 05/01/2025

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 05/01/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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