Family says Gaston County assisted living center ‘dumped’ woman at hospital

CHERRYVILLE, N.C. — State regulators are investigating Somerset Court of Cherryville after one of its residents spent almost two months stranded in the hospital.

The Gaston County assisted living facility refused to take Freda Reynolds back after a January hospitalization. The 72-year-old and her family are convinced administrators retaliated against her.

“It’s been nerve-wracking,” Reynolds said. “I don’t understand where they’re coming from.”

WCNC Charlotte investigated Somerset Court in February after employees and residents raised concerns about patient safety, care and dignity. Reynolds is the latest to publicly question the facility.

“My respect and dignity has been splattered,” she said as she sat in a hospital room in early March. “I miss my friends. I miss the people that I’ve come to know the past three-and-a-half years. I have one friend who recently passed away last week and I wasn’t there. That hurt to know you’ve been shut out of something you’ve been used to for a while.”

Before an area hospital admitted Reynolds in January for a procedure to help with her irregular heartbeat, the Somerset Court resident council president filed multiple complaints with the state. Reynolds said she grew bothered by the facility’s opening of resident mail and administrators’ responses when residents voiced concerns, among other things.

“It was at the point where if you speak up, you get into more confrontations,” Reynolds said. “I was taken to the office several times and was spoken to by corporate officials. (Other residents are) afraid of the retaliation. They’re afraid they’ll get kicked out.”

Reynold’s hospitalization, which began on January 20, opened the door for the assisted living facility to permanently remove her.

“She has reported to DSS or to the ombudsman about things that have been happening,” her daughter Carrie Reynolds said. “She has been an advocate for her and for the other residents.”

“You all believe she was retaliated against?” WCNC Charlotte asked.

“Yeah. For sure,” Carrie replied. “They definitely didn’t like when she spoke her mind.”

When it was time for her mother’s discharge, her nurse noted the hospital’s therapy department, with the support of her cardiologist, recommended assisted living facility care.

“I did let (the facility’s administrator) know that it was inappropriate to keep the patient sitting in the hospital once the physician has cleared her for discharge,” the nurse wrote on January 31.

Somerset Court pushed back. Progress notes show the facility disputed the recommendation, arguing it would be negligent to accept her back when her current “acuity of care” was higher than what the facility could provide. Several days later, the facility’s director also listed Freda’s “lack of cooperation at their facility” as a reason “for not taking her back,” according to medical records.

“She was supposed to be discharged after nine days, but Somerset refused to take her back,” her daughter said. “It’s called dumping. She’s homeless.”

Progress notes later said the facility would take her back if she completed rehabilitation, per the facility physician’s recommendation. However, the hospital again noted, “Therapies are not recommending rehab and with her managed care plan, she cannot go to rehab without that recommendation.” 

Shortly after, a facility administrator noted Somerset Court would not let her return, according to medical records. Progress notes show Somerset Court moved forward with kicking her out, telling one of Reynolds’ nurses by phone rather than providing the required 30-day eviction notice in writing, which eliminated any chance for her to appeal.

“The 30-day notice is supposed to be delivered in writing to the patient and has not been done at this time,” a February 13 nurse note said.

As a result, Reynolds sat in her hospital room for weeks as the hospital tried to find her an alternative placement.

“It’s confining,” Freda said. 

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services told WCNC Charlotte licensure rules usually require a notice.

“The resident, in most circumstances, must receive a 30-day notice of discharge which includes the right to appeal the discharge decision,” an NCDHHS spokesperson said. “The resident has the right to remain in the facility during the pendency of the appeal.”

Staff also alerted the ombudsman to request help advocating for the patient.

“The way she feels right now, her mental health is declining and that’s not ok,” her worried daughter said. “You can’t do that to a person. She literally has done nothing wrong.”

On a Friday in February, as Freda waited for a facility to accept her, her family drove to Somerset Court of Cherryville to move her out.

“I don’t want to cry to her and feel like there’s no hope, but some days that’s how I feel,” Carrie said.

Her daughter recorded on her phone as she confronted the facility’s business office manager that afternoon, asking why her mom hadn’t received a formal notice of eviction.

“I cannot answer that at all for you,” the woman said. “From a medical standpoint, I just know that we were unable to feel comfortable taking care of her needs.”

Eventually, after waiting 53 days in the hospital, a new facility in Shelby recently accepted Freda.

“I’m glad they took me,” Freda said on a March morning while sitting in her new room.

While grateful to finally have a permanent home, the reality is she’s now another 30 minutes farther away from her family.

“I’m really struggling,” she said. “I feel isolated. I’m out here on this island by myself.”

After WCNC Charlotte started asking questions, state regulators opened an investigation, which remains ongoing.

“From me having a good heart, it’s come back to kick me in the behind,” Freda said. “It makes me feel horrible.”

WCNC Charlotte reached out to Somerset Court of Cherryville more than a week ago, interested in learning more about its decision and what the facility is doing to treat its residents fairly and with dignity. WCNC Charlotte followed up on the initial request Friday. The facility did not respond.

“If individuals have concerns about the care being provided at a licensed adult care home, they are strongly encouraged to file a complaint with the DHSR Complaint Intake Unit by calling the hotline at 1-800-624-3004 or 919-855-4500,” an NCDHHS spokesperson said, adding complaints are confidential.