Families Move Loved Ones From Mustang Assisted Living Center

By Jennifer Pierce, NEWS 9

MUSTANG, Oklahoma – An emergency order filed against a Mustang assisted living center is causing some families to move their loved ones to a different location.

Mustang resident Richard Roberts is worried about his 90-year-old aunt's care. He plans to move her out of the Mustang Manor Assisted Living Center after hearing about the emergency order against the facility.

The Oklahoma State Department of Health suspended the owners' license because of a follow-up inspection where inspectors found cockroaches, spiders, food shortages and other health and safety violations. Now, the owners have 90 days to fix the problems.

A local ombudsman said this was coming for some time. She has seen the bad conditions first hand and she's glad the state is stepping in.

"The last time I was there, there was nobody in charge. Everybody there said somebody else was in charge or didn't know who was in charge," said Ombudsman Anna States.

States makes frequent visits to area assisted living centers and nursing homes. She has found the conditions at the Mustang facility to be dirty and unhealthy.

"Not enough food, food not palatable, residents not liking the food that was there...bedbugs," States said.

The complaints to the state health department date back to 2008. The owners were fined thousands of dollars, and the problems didn't go away.

The owner of Mustang Manor, a local doctor, also owns a facility in El Reno. States said the conditions there are just as bad.

The care center's director would not comment on the recent actions.

The state health department has received a transfer of ownership for Mustang Manor, but it has not been approved.