Patients were in "immediate and serious" danger when police and welfare department workers moved in, shut down an assisted living facility in Montgomery County and moved out every single patient Thursday morning.
Investigators said they had to get more than 50 patients relocated from Willow Crest Manor after two recent deaths raised suspicion.
There are allegations of neglect and substandard care according to court documents from an investigation that spanned several months.
The recent deaths of two patients are being looked into by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office. It's possible those two patients may not have gotten the medical care they needed, according to Matt Jones with the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare.
The facility’s owner is Anand, a.k.a. Dave Mittal.
He is accused of choking a 74 year old patient with Parkinson’s disease in August, according to Upper Moreland police. They say Mittal has been forbidden on the property since that time, so when he showed up Thursday morning, he was escorted away by police.
Mittal’s attorney said the owner denies any allegations of neglect and that he is working to get a court order to overturn the Department of Welfare’s actions.
Mittal’s attorney said patients and their families are upset by the sudden move and the facility being shut down.
Willow Crest Manor is on Fitzwatertown Road in Willow Grove.
According to state records, Mittal operates the following facilities:
- Disston Manor Personal Care Home
- Southampton Personal Care Home
- Adelphia Personal Care Home
- Willow Crest Manor
Records:
Order to Relocate Residents from Willow Crest Manor
Settlement Agreement between Pa. Dept. of Welfare and Mittal
Violation Report: Disston Manor
Click here to check the records for Personal Care facilities in the state of Pennsylvania.
