The owners of three California elder care facilities will pay $145,000 in civil penalties and costs to settle allegations they failed to properly staff and background-check employees, Monterey and San Joaquin County prosecutors announced this week.
District Attorneys Jeannine Pacioni of Monterey County and Ron Freitas of San Joaquin County said the settlement resolves claims against Roma Del Monte Inc. in Pacific Grove, A1 Del Monte Inc. in Stockton, and Del Monte Lodi Inc., along with owners Sandeep and Anuradha Saini.
Prosecutors said Roma Del Monte repeatedly experienced resident elopements and other safety issues in 2022 that led to 16 calls to Pacific Grove police. Elopements refer to when residents leave without staff knowledge, putting them in danger.
Investigators also found the facilities employed workers who lacked required background checks and allowed them contact with residents without seeking state exemptions.
Under the agreement, the Sainis are barred from operating the Pacific Grove facility and all Del Monte facilities must comply with staffing and background check requirements.
The owners of the facilities weren’t immediately available for comment on the settlement.