For-profit interests clash with seniors’ well-being.

Like the rest of California, Monterey County’s population is aging. Pam Marino here, looking at stats showing that in 2020, 20 percent of the population was age 60 and over. By 2030 the percentage is expected to be 23 percent, and by 2060 it is projected at 28 percent. 

How will we provide for the needs of our growing senior population? It’s an important question to ask, one that the state is currently attempting to answer by creating a Master Plan for Aging. The Salinas Valley was one of 15 regions selected by the state for participation in creating the plan, and that work is happening now through a steering committee of representatives from local nonprofits and agencies, led by the Alliance on Aging.

Housing looms large as a major challenge for seniors. The issues surrounding housing include supporting seniors who are aging in place in their homes and providing affordable homes for those who can no longer afford market rate housing. 

A news story in this week’s paper by Editor Sara Rubin highlights yet another challenge, providing quality care for people living within senior housing communities. 

Numerous deficiencies were found at Pacific Grove Senior Living, formerly called Forest Hill Manor, by a neutral third-party monitor, who prepared a report for the Office of the California Attorney General. 

The monitor was required to ensure that the facility’s for-profit owner, Pacifica Senior Living, was living up to state-mandated conditions to its acquisition of P.G. Senior Living from nonprofit California-Nevada Methodist Homes, which filed for bankruptcy in 2021. (Also included in the report was another Pacifica facility, Lake Park, in Oakland.)

The monitor found failures to honor resident contracts, a lack of emergency lighting, antiquated infrastructure, declining food quality and reductions in social activities. Staff cuts made by Pacifica were blamed for creating safety issues. 

“Pacifica doesn’t give a damn about seniors. We are the last thing on their mind,” 90-year-old Rochelle Rutledge said. Rutledge was without heat in her apartment from January-March.

I encourage you to read the story for more details. (You can also read the full report at the bottom of the story. Besides the residents’ association website, it’s all we have to go on—Rubin never heard back from the executive director of P.G. Senior Living, and the front desk said they were unable to connect her to the corporate office in San Diego. The company’s website doesn’t provide any contact information, so she sent a letter by snail mail, which also has not gotten a response.)

By the way, Pacifica also owns The Park Lane in Monterey. Last year the company paid over $1.5 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by district attorneys in 10 counties where Pacifica operates facilities, over failing to comply with asbestos laws while engaging in renovations. The company cooperated with prosecutors. 

Massive for-profit companies more interested in the bottom line is a serious issue in the senior care industry, one worth investigating and regulating. We need to give a damn about seniors, and make sure their needs come first.

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