Golden Living Center - Shafter

I am writing you on behalf of my family and relatives that live in the Shafter community. I wanted to bring to your attention that I received a disturbing call on the 14th of April from the Executive Director, Mr. Tim Telmo from the Shafter Nursing & Rehab (previously named Golden Living) located at 140 E. Tulare Ave Shafter, CA 93263 (661) 746.3912. Mr. Telmo stated that after consulting with his Social Services Director, Holly L. Myers that they were going to be moving my father, Ruven L. Marquez to another wing despite our family’s wishes or the advice of his Doctor since this move would not be conducive to our father's well being and his current treatment plan.As we are all aware the COVID 19 pandemic is greatly threatening the health status' of not only the patients there with high acuity but for the staff as well. Moving anyone and even changing staffing without a dire need to do so would be irresponsible and careless.We agree with our father’s Doctor that it is within the best interest for our father (and others) that he remains in place and to practice social distancing measures as best as he can while wearing PPE if possible.Mr. Telmo stated that the reason for moving my father was so that it would make room for patients who are undergoing physical therapy and that our father resides in a temporary wing of the center. However, our father has been in that wing since he had moved in (approx Feb 2018). On the 15th of April Mr. Telmo had changed his story to say that the reason for moving him is now to devote his room to quarantine new patients. I learned that this could not be correct either and have asked him some questions to better understand why he is actually doing this and to date he has not answered any questions.We do not feel that Mr Telmo’s reasons merit any just cause to moving our father especially during a pandemic, in fact we feel that it would only exacerbate his and other’s health conditions. Our family felt so strongly about this that he had to refer this to an attorney and further file an immediate complaint with the Kern County Ombudsman’s office and the CA Department of Public Health. We only want our father to return to his room and be safe.

My husband and I used to frequently visit the Golden Living Center in Shafter until the COVID 19 pandemic started. During this time we had our kids write letters to our loved one to stay in touch. We learned recently that our loved one was being relocated to another room in another wing at the facility. This grieved our family and concerned our loved one's doctor to the extent where a letter was drafted and presented to the center. This didn't seem to have any affect on their Executive Director, Mr Ted Temo or their Social Services Director, Mrs. Holly L. Myers. To date they haven't answered our families questions or even seemed at all remorseful for having done such a wicked act. I'm very concerned for our loved one because he feels all alone, and we cant even visit due to the pandemic. Golden Living truly hit our loved one hard at the most vulnerable time. Please don't send your loved ones here. Although the staff (nurses) are all great we know its the upper management that is to be held responsible in all of this; shame on them.

Golden Living Center was once was a caring facility that placed the needs of their residence above all. Then recently a Mr. Ted Telmo of Dycora became involved, this person clearly places other things known only to him above the care and welfare of the residence he's is ultimately responsible for. He has willfully ignored requests for information from our family and moved our father to another room against the explicit direction of our father's doctor and our family's wishes. On the phone he's rude, arrogant & disrespectful, however in writing his ridiculous posturing act of caring is exceeded only by his juvenile attempt to disguise it. Rest assured this family will not stand for it!

Golden Living Center has always been a wonderful facility with caring staff who have provided excellent care for my father-in law until their operations were taken over by Dicora and Mr. Telmo became the Director. At every encounter Mr Telmo has been unprofessional, rude and placed my father in laws well being at jeopardy by unilaterally deciding to change my father in laws room where has resided for the past two years. Even though the family expressed concerns and my father in laws physician provided written notice to the facility that a disruptive move would jeopardize the health and well being of my father in law Mr. Temlo against physician direction and without the consent of the family unilaterally authorized the move. We have made several attempts by phone and in writing requesting information, care conferences and all requests have been disregarded by Mr. Temlo. I am extremely saddened to see what use to be such a wonderful caring facility turn into such a low budget, heartless, and uncaring environment during such a dire time as Covid-19. I encourage any family considering to place a loved one at this facility to look else where!