OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Social and Health Services halted admissions to and revoked and suspended the license of Serenity Creek Adult Family Home LLC, a privately operated adult family home located at 601 Honeysuckle Drive, Mount Vernon.

The home is licensed to Ward Ernst.

The state took the action after finding numerous violations that jeopardized the safety and well-being of residents. The violations include but are not limited to:

• The licensee failed to ensure narcotic medications were accurately recorded and administered, placing a resident at risk of medication errors and unrelieved pain.
• The licensee failed to ensure bed rail were assessed for safe use, failed to develop a care plan for the use of bed rails and failed to ensure residents and their representatives were aware of the risks and benefits of using bed rails.
• The licensee failed to report to the department and to law enforcement when a staff member diverted residents' narcotic pain medication.
• The licensee failed to ensure residents' the right to privacy by using an audio monitoring device without consent. This is a repeat or uncorrected deficiency previously cited on December 8, 2008.
• The licensee failed to provide truthful information during a complaint investigation, jeopardizing residents' safety.
• The licensee improperly discharged a resident while she was receiving rehabilitation at a skilled nursing facility. This failure resulted in the resident and the resident's family having no advanced warning to find another home on the day of discharge.

The provider has the right to contest the stop placement, revocation, and summary suspension by requesting an administrative hearing within 28 days of state notification. Current residents have been moved to other settings.

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DSHS does not discriminate and provides equal access to its programs and services for all persons without regard to race, color, gender, religion, creed, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, age, veteran's status or the presence of any physical, sensory or mental disability.