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Assembly Committee Schedules Hearings on Veterans Home Problems
Spectrum
staff
The Assembly Veterans Committee has scheduled two hearings to investigate
charges of elder abuse and negligent care at the California Veterans Home
in Barstow.
Assemblywoman Nicole Parra, a Kern County Democrat who chairs the committee,
noted that a member of the Veterans Home staff currently is under investigation
for elder abuse, with the California Highway Patrol recommending that criminal
charges be filed.
In February, the Barstow facility was fined $95,000 for the death of a resident
who received negligent care from a staff doctor. The doctor prescribed a drug
for the 78-year-old veteran without checking his medical records, and did
not provide adequate follow-up care to determine that a drug interaction was
killing him over a four-week period.
"The recent allegations and long history of problems at the state's Barstow
Veterans Home warrant an immediate investigation," Parra said. "We
must do everything we can to provide a safe and dignified environment at our
state Veterans Homes."
On March 11, the committee will meet at 4 p.m. in Room 126 of the state Capitol
to take testimony on health and safety issues at the home. The state Department
of Health Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs will send representatives
to speak at the hearing.
A second hearing will be held April 4 at the Barstow facility in San Bernardino
County. Parra said the hearing will allow residents, staff and local law enforcement
officials to testify.
In addition to the facility in Barstow, the state operates Veterans Homes
in Yountville (Napa County) and Chula Vista (San Diego County) and plans to
build five more homes.
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By Daniel Dullum Spectrum staff writer CARMICHAEL -- Looking into his wife Win's eyes, Wayne Lewis heartily concurs with a lyric made famous by soul singer Doris Troy in 1962 -- "All it took was just one look." The twinkle in his own eyes says it all. "The second I saw her, I didn't want to be just her dancing partner, I wanted to be part of her life!" Wayne Lewis said during a Tuesday afternoon dance at Mission Oaks Community Center. "Look around this room and tell me if you don't think she's the most beautiful thing on the floor! Wow!" Taking his compliment in stride, Win Lewis laughed and said, "Meeting him here is like having a Cracker Jack box and reaching in and getting the gift that's inside!" The Tuesday afternoon dances have been a weekly gift of pleasure at the Mission Oaks Community Center since the center opened in 1982. Many single seniors have found new companions at the dances -- Wayne and Win Lewis, both 87, of Citrus Heights among them. "My first husband passed away in 1981. A girlfriend and I came over here to dance," Win Lewis remembered. Wayne Lewis interjected, "I didn't walk up to you and say, 'May I have this dance?' I walked right up to her and asked, 'Would you marry me?' She said, 'Are you crazy?'" "A neighbor lady had her eye on him," Win Lewis continued. "She said, 'Wayne, I want you to get dressed up and come to the dance.' He said, 'I don't want to go.' She said, 'You're going if I have to drag you!' "He danced a couple of dances with her. I came in late and pretty soon Wayne comes up, very gentlemanly, and asked me to dance. I said sure. We get out on the floor and he asks me to marry him! I said 'Who let you out?'" Win advised Wayne to meet a few more ladies, but the former Navy commander and aviator wouldn't waver. "The minute I saw you, I wanted to marry you and take care of you for the rest of your life," Wayne told her. "I don't need taking care of," she responded. "I've been doing pretty good so far." Over time, the two became better acquainted and continued to meet at the Mission Oak dances. "We made a date to go out to dinner and I could see his good qualities. ... Every time he'd see me, he said, 'I want to marry you.' I told him I was having too much fun being single!" E HOME This page and its contents ©2003 Metropolitan News Company, Inc. |
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