Rockwood, TN (WOKI / WVLT) An assisted living facility in Roane County is ordered closed after authorities find bedbugs and biohazard violations.
Our news partner WVLT reporting that Victorian Square Assisted Living, located on Chamberlain Avenue in Rockwood, was ordered closed by the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission for numerous violations to include the finding of bed bugs in several rooms in the facility and that the disposal of biohazard material had been discontinued.
The order indicates that the violations stem from tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills the facility racked up for services such as electric, water and sewer, and pest control.
According to the order, Victorian Square owed Rockwood Electric Utility $36,546.62 in unpaid bills by the end of February, meaning their electric services would be shut off at the end of March. The same was true for Victorian Square’s water and gas services, with the order claiming the facility owed the Rockwood Water, Sewer and Gas Board $35,985.44.
The order also claims Victorian Square hadn’t paid for pest control services, adding that “there is currently bed bugs in several rooms in the facility.”
On top of that, the order claims that biohazard disposal had been discontinued for the same reason.
“All biohazard material is currently being stored in various places around the building,” the order states.
As for the facility’s residents, the order claims that as of March 5 Victorian Square hadn’t given any of the residents a notice to vacate, even though it was given a notice of default on Jan. 12 and the Chamberlin Memorial Board voted to issue a notice to vacate on Feb. 27. That notice is usually given 60 days in advance, but Victorian Square is being ordered, among other things, to move all residents by March 30, when utility services will be shut off.
Victorian Square’s license to operate was also summarily suspended and placed on probation, the order says. On top of moving everyone out, the facility also has to make sure residents get their medical history, equipment and anything else they might need.
