Wood River Senior Care Facility Withheld Food from Patients

BELLEVUE, Idaho (AP) — State officials say food deprivation for two months at a central Idaho care facility for people with dementia led to weight loss averaging 22 pounds among seven residents checked. The investigation last fall by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare found that Safe Haven Home of Bellevue also failed to administer medications and failed to run an infectious control program. The Idaho Mountain Express reports in a story on Friday that the facility is one of 13 senior-care facilities run by Pocatello-based Safe Haven Health Care throughout the state.

Workers at the facility told state officials the facility administrator stole food. State officials say the facility is on a plan to correct problems. Current facility administrator Staci Fowler says the previous administrator was fired on Sept. 15.