FULTON, N.Y. -- "I’ve been for years trying to convince people that that isn't the worst place in the world to live." said Fulton resident June Holden.
But the state health department sees it differently. During a routine check earlier this month the state health department found numerous health and safety violations. An emergency order was signed by the state health commissioner which suspends Rosewood's operation and puts them on the states do not refer list.
"This is really appalling and we found this one to be quite disturbing," said state health department spokesman Jeffrey Hammond.
Failure to provide proper medication to residents was just one of the violations cited in the emergency order. The report also said that residents were forced to get their hair cut by someone who was not licensed to cut hair after an an outbreak of head lice. The report also says residents were forced to wear bed sheets while their clothes were taken to the laundromat. When asked about all this, owner Rose Shorter told Health Department officials the unlicensed haircuts were a 'party on the patio' and referred to the bed sheets as a 'toga party.'
The state health commissioner signs an emergency order barring Rosewood from admitting new residents after a routine inspection turned up numerous health and safety violations.
"I’m just in a state of shock, I am," said Holden. Holden worked part time at Rosewood for about eight years before retiring twelve years ago. She said things like that never happened when she was there.
"Rose Shorter wasn't easy to work for but I never knew of her to abuse the residents themselves," said Holden.
Residents currently living in Rosewood have a week to find somewhere else to stay. We tried to speak with the owner of Rosewood, but a staff member told us they have no comment at this time. They also said they are trying to make the transition for the residents as comfortable as possible.