New protocols, new staff and a new leadership team are welcoming residents back to an Oregon senior living community following approvals from the state.
This week, 20 assisted living residents will return to Junction City Retirement and Assisted Living, Junction City, OR, after being evacuated last month due to an extended power outage caused by a driver hitting a nearby utility pole, and allegations of elder abuse.
Before the return of residents, Junction City hired a new leadership team and caretaking staff members — including a new executive director and a third-party consultant to ensure that the community continues to meet the Oregon Department of Human Services’ caretaking standards. The community also instituted an ongoing, independent nursing review and COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safe return of residents.
“For the past several weeks, our team has worked diligently with the Department of Human Services to ensure our assisted living residents return to a safe environment,” said Caitlin VanDerSchaaf, regional vice president of Frontier Management, which operates Junction City. “Our new leadership team and staff look forward to welcoming assisted living residents back to the community, and providing them the high quality and dignified care that they deserve.”
The return of assisted living residents, who were moved to Lone Oak Assisted Living — Junction City’s sister property in Eugene, OR — follows the earlier return of independent living residents in late October after the community passed the state’s electrical, maintenance and occupancy requirements and protocols.
“Our team worked diligently to address the electrical and maintenance issues caused by the power outage, and collaborated closely with the Oregon State Fire Marshal to ensure our independent living residents returned to a safe environment,” VanDerSchaaf said.
The Oregon Department of Human Services previously placed severe conditions on the community’s license for failing to provide a safe environment.
