Pa. shutters 2 nursing homes

NEW FREEDOM, Pa. (AP) — The state closed two personal-care homes after recent inspections found numerous violations, including illegal drug use by staffers at one home and the lack of running water in the other.

The Always Better Care homes were shut down Wednesday, two days after they were inspected, Department of Public Welfare spokeswoman Anne Bale said. Officials have arranged for the 22 residents who lived in the New Freedom homes to receive care elsewhere.

Inspectors found that prescription painkillers were stolen from a terminally ill patient at one home on several occasions, and some of the missing drugs were replaced with an anti-nausea medication in an apparent attempt to conceal the theft, according to the inspection reports. Michelle Kooser, who owned both homes, said she was aware of Vicodin being stolen on one occasion but did not report it to police, the reports said.

One employee at the home was allowed to continue working, despite repeatedly testing positive for marijuana use, according to the inspection reports.

Unpaid bills led to a shut-off of water service to the other home on Nov. 26, and the home failed to report on a resident who was injured in a fall Nov. 1.

A home telephone number could not be found for Kooser on Thursday. The phone at one of her homes was disconnected and no one answered at the other.

Southern York County Regional Police said they were investigating the drug thefts, but no arrests had been made.