The owners of Lawrence Place Assisted Living have been ordered to close and seek relocation of its residents by midnight, Monday, after allegations of nursing home abuse.
A Franklin County Judge ordered the facility to close following an emergency investigation by officials from the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) based on complaints that residents were at serious risk of elder abuse and mismanagement of medication.
The investigation into Lawrence Place began in January when the facility received 38 points out of a possible 100 points. Since then, facility owner Roger Jacobsen signed a consent agreement with the state, indicating he would sell Lawrence Place to a suitable owner.
An unresponsive staff and unclean facility were among the problems discovered by the ADPH during its initial survey of Lawrence Place in January. Also cited in the report was the absence of an administrator on duty.
