A South Florida assisted living facility has been shut down by the state following alarming allegations of neglect and unqualified staff.
One resident was hospitalized, while another reportedly suffered in agony for days before receiving proper medical care.
Local 10 News Investigator Jeff Weinsier confronted the owner of High Tower ALF, a three-bedroom, two-bath home licensed as an assisted living facility. A sign on the front door now reads: “This Facility Is Closed.”
The address of the home is 432 NW 15th St. in Homestead.
According to a 20-page emergency order issued by the Agency for Health Care Administration, conditions at the facility were deemed an emergency, stating, “The conditions at the facility constitute an emergency!”
The order highlighted unsafe conditions and severe deficiencies in care practices.
Weinsier attempted to speak with the facility’s owner, knocking on the front door.
“Who can we talk to regarding the State of Florida shutting you down for violations? Putting patients’ care in jeopardy?” Weinsier asked.
The owner replied, “We are checking out everything that has happened here. We are figuring everything that is happening right now.”
The emergency order detailed alarming findings, including that the facility’s administrator left for Brazil for two months, leaving an unqualified, unlicensed, and untrained person in charge of residents. This sole caregiver:
- Was left alone with residents 24/7 for two months without assistance.
- Did not know how to perform CPR.
- Was unqualified to administer first aid or medications.
- Possessed only a cell phone picture of a passport as identification.
- Had not undergone a required criminal background check.
When pressed further, the owner declined to comment, stating, “We don’t want to talk about anything right now.”
The state’s investigation revealed multiple cases of severe neglect:
- Resident 1 was bedridden, on hospice, and unable to communicate. The untrained staff member improperly administered medication and attempted unauthorized medical procedures.
- Resident 2 suffered severe abdominal pain for days. The untrained caregiver attempted a failed medical procedure, and emergency services were not called for four days, delaying critical hospital care.
- Resident 3, a diabetic, missed multiple insulin doses due to a lack of oversight.
- Resident 4, who was known to be a fall risk, was left unattended, fell, and fractured a hip. Emergency services were not called immediately, resulting in the need for surgery.
The emergency order states these were not isolated incidents. As a result, an immediate moratorium on new admissions has been issued.
High Tower ALF has a documented history of patient care deficiencies.
State records show healthcare violations were found at the facility in both July and October of 2024. The facility had also been fined for similar issues in 2023 and 2021.
Before placing a loved one in an assisted living facility, families are urged to visit Florida Health Finder, a state-run resource that provides information on a facility’s history, inspections, and any past violations.
According to the emergency order, three residents have been relocated from the facility, while a fourth remains hospitalized, recovering from injuries sustained at the home.
Read the emergency order below.
A South Florida assisted living facility has been shut down by the state following alarming allegations of neglect and unqualified staff.
HOMESTEAD, Fla. – A South Florida assisted living facility has been shut down by the state following alarming allegations of neglect and unqualified staff.
One resident was hospitalized, while another reportedly suffered in agony for days before receiving proper medical care.
Local 10 News Investigator Jeff Weinsier confronted the owner of High Tower ALF, a three-bedroom, two-bath home licensed as an assisted living facility. A sign on the front door now reads: “This Facility Is Closed.”
The address of the home is 432 NW 15th St. in Homestead.
According to a 20-page emergency order issued by the Agency for Health Care Administration, conditions at the facility were deemed an emergency, stating, “The conditions at the facility constitute an emergency!”
The order highlighted unsafe conditions and severe deficiencies in care practices.
Weinsier attempted to speak with the facility’s owner, knocking on the front door.
“Who can we talk to regarding the State of Florida shutting you down for violations? Putting patients’ care in jeopardy?” Weinsier asked.
The owner replied, “We are checking out everything that has happened here. We are figuring everything that is happening right now.”
The emergency order detailed alarming findings, including that the facility’s administrator left for Brazil for two months, leaving an unqualified, unlicensed, and untrained person in charge of residents. This sole caregiver:
-
Was left alone with residents 24/7 for two months without assistance.
-
Did not know how to perform CPR.
-
Was unqualified to administer first aid or medications.
-
Possessed only a cell phone picture of a passport as identification.
-
Had not undergone a required criminal background check.
When pressed further, the owner declined to comment, stating, “We don’t want to talk about anything right now.”
The state’s investigation revealed multiple cases of severe neglect:
-
Resident 1 was bedridden, on hospice, and unable to communicate. The untrained staff member improperly administered medication and attempted unauthorized medical procedures.
-
Resident 2 suffered severe abdominal pain for days. The untrained caregiver attempted a failed medical procedure, and emergency services were not called for four days, delaying critical hospital care.
-
Resident 3, a diabetic, missed multiple insulin doses due to a lack of oversight.
-
Resident 4, who was known to be a fall risk, was left unattended, fell, and fractured a hip. Emergency services were not called immediately, resulting in the need for surgery.
The emergency order states these were not isolated incidents. As a result, an immediate moratorium on new admissions has been issued.
High Tower ALF has a documented history of patient care deficiencies.
State records show healthcare violations were found at the facility in both July and October of 2024. The facility had also been fined for similar issues in 2023 and 2021.
Before placing a loved one in an assisted living facility, families are urged to visit Florida Health Finder, a state-run resource that provides information on a facility’s history, inspections, and any past violations.
According to the emergency order, three residents have been relocated from the facility, while a fourth remains hospitalized, recovering from injuries sustained at the home.
Read the emergency order below.