State Orders Mass Evacuation of Pasadena Skilled Nursing Facility

[Updated]  The State Attorney General’s Office on Thursday ordered the mass evacuation and relocation of 63 elderly patients from the Golden Cross Health Care Facility in Northwest Pasadena.

At least 30 ambulances were ordered to the skilled nursing facility in the 1400 block of North Fair Oaks Avenue late Thursday afternoon to ferry patients to other care facilities through the county. The process went on well into the night.

None of the patients required hospitalization, an official said.

Pasadena spokesperson Lisa Derderian told City News Service the facility was “in the process of being de-licensed.”

Derderian said the evacuation was ordered “due to lack of patient care including response to COVID.”

According to the city’s coronavirus dashboard, 72 residents and 32 staff members at the Golden Cross facility have contracted COVID-19.

Eight people connected to the facility have died from COVD-19 related illness.

“City management, including the Interim Fire Chief Frieders and [Pasadena Public Health Department Director] Dr. Goh have been on site with their staff working hands on and diligently in coordination with local, state and federal agencies and health and legal officials to resolve numerous issues at this facility,” Derderian said.

She indicated problems have been ongoing for some time.

“City Health, Fire and City Attorneys Office have been working with the Dept. of Justice, National Guard, Licensing and numerous local and state agencies to help resolve the issue but it got to the point to where it was in the best interest of the residents of the facility to be transferred for the appropriate care,” Derderian said.

The majority of Pasadena COVID-19 deaths can be tied to local skilled nursing facilities.

As of Thursday night, 72 of the city’s 84 coronavirus fatalities were linked to 19 long term care facilities.

Ironically, Golden Cross did not experience the highest infection rate and death count among Pasadena facilities. City figures attribute that to Brighton Care Center, with 77 patient and 51 staff COVID-19 infections and 16 deaths.

Last April, L.A. County public health director Dr. Barbara Ferrer advised people to take their loved ones out of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

“In general, we do concur with the advice that’s come from both the CDC and the state,” Ferrer said, “that if you have a loved one in a facility and at this point in time you’re able to care for them at home, this would be perfectly appropriate.”