Senator Corbett Responds to DSS Report Regarding Valley Springs Manor

Provided by the office of Senator Corbett

Senate Majority Leader Ellen M. Corbett (D-East Bay) issued the following statement after the California Department of Social Services today issued a departmental report on the closure of the Valley Springs Residential Care Facility for the Elderly in Castro Valley:

“As the State Senator representing Castro Valley, it is with sadness and hope that I have reviewed today’s report by the Department of Social Services. I appreciate that the Department has now publicly admitted that it ‘fell short of its mission to protect the health and safety of residents’ at Valley Springs and that its ‘judgment call’ on the facility closure process was incorrect. In spite of the initial corrective actions outlined by the Department in the report, I still firmly believe that we must legislatively codify protections for these vulnerable residents in our local communities.”

“I am convinced that we must strengthen the assisted living facility inspection process, as well as ensure a comprehensive plan that addresses the immediate and long term needs of assisted living residents following a facility closure. I will soon introduce legislation that will seek to accomplish both of those goals in order to prevent future tragedies that may potentially jeopardize the safety of elderly and/or sick residents at these facilities. It is unconscionable that over a dozen assisted living residents were left virtually alone for two days at Valley Springs Manor last October with minimal follow-up by the state.”

“As my legislation is considered over the next few weeks and months, I look forward to working with my legislative colleagues, departmental representatives, the Governor’s Office, stakeholders and assisted living facility representatives and residents to ensure that future similar tragedies do not occur again.”