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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 306004192
Report Date: 07/31/2025
Date Signed: 07/31/2025 12:30:49 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 770 THE CITY DR., SUITE 7100
ORANGE, CA 92868
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
07/29/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Sean Haddad
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 22-AS-20250729083734
FACILITY NAME:WHITTEN HEIGHTS ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CAREFACILITY NUMBER:
306004192
ADMINISTRATOR:STEVE SHENFACILITY TYPE:
740
ADDRESS:200 WEST WHITTIER BLVD.TELEPHONE:
(562) 691-1200
CITY:LA HABRASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90631
CAPACITY:196CENSUS: 113DATE:
07/31/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
07:32 AM
MET WITH:Faye ShenTIME COMPLETED:
12:00 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Facility staff allow residents to smoke in non-smoking areas
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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This unannounced inspection is being conducted by Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Sean Haddad for the purpose of investigating the above-mentioned complaint allegation. LPA met with Chief Operating Officer (COO) Faye Shen, discussed the purpose of the inspection, and explained the allegation.

The investigation into the allegation that facility staff allow residents to smoke in non-smoking areas revealed the following: During the course of the investigation, LPA inspected the facility, interviewed COO and staff, and obtained and reviewed copies of the resident roster, staff roster, a photograph of Resident #1 (R1), the facility’s house rules, and R1’s eviction notice.

CONTINUED
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Armando J Lucero
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sean Haddad
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/31/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/31/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 3
Control Number 22-AS-20250729083734
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 770 THE CITY DR., SUITE 7100
ORANGE, CA 92868
FACILITY NAME: WHITTEN HEIGHTS ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE
FACILITY NUMBER: 306004192
VISIT DATE: 07/31/2025
NARRATIVE
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It was alleged that R1 smokes in the patio in front of the building, which is not a designated smoking area, right in front of the facility’s entrance, subjecting residents and visitors to the smell of smoke when entering the building and leaving cigarette butts in the front patio. LPA reviewed a photograph of R1 smoking in the front patio. LPA inspected the facility and observed R1 smoking in the front patio about five feet from the front door, with cigarette butts on the floor and a strong smell of smoke present at the front entrance. LPA reviewed the facility’s house rules which state that smoking is only allowed in the designated smoking area and smoking is prohibited inside the building and where there are “no smoking” signs. LPA interviewed COO and a staff knowledgeable about R1 who admitted the allegation, stating that the only designated smoking area is the central courtyard and residents are not allowed to smoke in their rooms or anywhere else. Both COO and the staff stated that R1 smokes in the front patio near the front door regularly, the facility has warned R1 and worked with their social worker multiple times but has been unsuccessful in stopping R1’s behavior, and residents and visitors complain about R1 and have engaged in verbal altercations with R1 due to their smoking at the front door. The facility was previously cited for R1 smoking outside near the front door in connection with Complaint Control No. 22-AS-20250106112758. Since then, in addition to continuing to give R1 warnings and working with R1’s social worker, COO stated they served an eviction notice. LPA reviewed R1’s eviction notice which indicates the 30-day notice period ended on June 6, 2025, almost two months ago. Per COO, the facility has not proceeded with the next steps in the eviction process as required to protect the personal rights of other residents because they are still trying to work with R1’s social worker. By not proceeding with the next steps of the eviction process, the facility is not properly addressing R1’s continuing violations of the house rules which is causing residents and visitors to engage in verbal altercations with R1. The information obtained corroborated the allegation.

During the course of the investigation, the Department obtained sufficient evidence to substantiate the allegation mentioned above. The preponderance of evidence standard has been met; therefore, the above allegation is Substantiated. See LIC9099D for cited deficiencies per Title 22 Division 6 of the California Code of Regulations. Civil penalties for repeat violations are being assessed. See LIC421FC. An exit interview was conducted and a copy of this report and appeal rights was discussed with and provided to facility representative.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Armando J Lucero
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sean Haddad
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/31/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/31/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 22-AS-20250729083734
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 770 THE CITY DR., SUITE 7100
ORANGE, CA 92868

FACILITY NAME: WHITTEN HEIGHTS ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE
FACILITY NUMBER: 306004192
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 07/31/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
08/01/2025
Section Cited
CCR
87468.1(a)(2)
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87468.1 Personal Rights… (a) … (2) To be accorded safe, healthful and comfortable accommodations... This requirement was not met as evidenced by: Based on admission and observations, the licensee did not ensure residents can
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Licensee stated that they will take all measures to address R1’s violations of the house rules, including by moving forward with the eviction process, and submit proof to LPA by POC due date.
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safely and comfortably enjoy the facility by not properly enforcing the facility’s smoking rules resulting in verbal altercations between residents and visitors and R1, which poses an immediate personal rights risk to persons in care.
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Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Armando J Lucero
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Sean Haddad
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/31/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 07/31/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
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