Homes for the A mentally retarded person was allegedly wrestled to the ground after he bumped into a staff member at a facility operated under a nonprofit organization called Arc in Hawaii.
retarded close
Four facilities operated by Arc
Ex-employees say complaints ignored
of Hawaii shut their doors after
reports of federal violations. The
closures leave clients' families anxious
Deficiencies reportedBy Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com
In another facility, a patient was allegedly handled roughly by staff after she was forced to walk. A report stated that the client fell and broke her toe.
BRYANT FUKUTOMI / BFUKUTOMI@STARBULLETIN.COM Several allegations of abuse that occurred at homes for the mentally retarded operated under the Arc went unreported to federal and state agencies as required by law, according to a report by federal investigators. Other cases were not reported in a timely manner.
Within the last six months, four facilities -- Dominis, Wailua A, Ewa A and Halawa -- were decertified by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. A report obtained by the Star-Bulletin through the Freedom of Information Act stated the facilities failed to meet standards in various categories such as active treatment services and client protection.
According to former Arc in Hawaii Executive Director Garrett Toguchi, a number of allegations of abuse and neglect by investigators were not reported to designated authorities because there was a lack of middle management "to provide adequate support to these employees to be more competently implementing the procedures."
Toguchi believes a lump sum of $2 million is needed to help Arc in Hawaii meet federal standards. With additional funding, the administration would be able to get more training for staff members and hire qualified employees, he said.
Toguchi said complaints of patient abuse and neglect at the four facilities came from disgruntled employees. The complaints led federal and state agents to conduct an investigation. Toguchi also noted that though the federal standards remain the same, "the enforcement has changed."
"Those homes were certified anywhere from 10 to 15 years," he said.
The Arc in Hawaii, formerly known as the Association for Retarded Citizens, was formed in 1954. During the 1970s the organization was a pioneer in developing community-based homes for the mentally retarded and to prevent families from having to admit their sons or daughters into an institution.
Arc operates 19 homes in the state. About four or five adult residents are cared for in each intermediate care facility.
Lambert Wai, interim Arc executive director, said it cost an estimated $70,000 a month to operate the Ewa A and Halawa facilities.
During the first week of March, Toguchi resigned after more than 10 years of service.
"My resigning has nothing to do with the challenges that we faced," he said. "The organization has been through more difficult times in the past than what they are facing now.
"When you're focused on the mission, you don't pay attention to the bottom line, which is being able to function as a business."
Toguchi said he felt responsible for the problems that Arc had faced over the years, and hopes the administration will focus on getting additional funding for the facilities.
Last year, the Dominis and Wailua A facilities closed following decertification.
The Ewa A and Halawa homes were decertified by federal agents on March 3, and Arc in Hawaii officials are to close the two facilities today.
Wai said Arc in Hawaii would reopen the Ewa A and Halawa homes as domiciliary care homes -- which provide a lesser kind of care than an intermediate care facility -- if the two homes receive licenses.
"We take any clients when other agencies turn away clients. ... I think state officials are appreciating the fact that we take the most difficult cases," Wai said.
Sharon Tanaka, acting chief of the Case Management and Informational Services Branch of the state Department of Health, said the residents are between their late 30s and early 50s and suffer from severe to profound mental retardation.
Wai said the decertification of the homes "has upset me to no end."
He said parents of the residents served by the homes were concerned and anxious.
"Having a child myself, I know exactly how they feel," added Wai, who has a 49-year-old daughter, Faith, who suffers from profound mental retardation. She has lived in the Kaimuki A home for the past 15 years.
The Arc in Hawaii and the state have been working together in the best interest of the residents, he said.
"I've got to do all I can do to help out," said Wai. "The goal is to make sure all the clients stay put and get the best possible care that they deserve, and hopefully we could provide that."
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
