374603339-2-25-2025-18-AS-TDAN-DEAS5B-20250227123400

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 374603339
Report Date: 02/25/2025
Date Signed: 02/25/2025 02:31:53 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE ASC, 1650 SPRUCE ST STE 200 MS29-27
RIVERSIDE, CA 92507

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
04/03/2023 and conducted by Evaluator Janette Romero

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 18-AS-20230403114528

FACILITY NAME:	MERIDIAN AT LAKE SAN MARCOS, THE		FACILITY NUMBER:	374603339
ADMINISTRATOR:	QUIGLEY, KEVIN		FACILITY TYPE:	740
ADDRESS:	1177 SAN MARINO DR BLDG 1 & 2		TELEPHONE:	(760) 510-7500
CITY:	SAN MARCOS	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92078
CAPACITY:	170	CENSUS: 127	DATE:	02/25/2025
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	01:30 PM
MET WITH:	Administrator, Amy Banaga		TIME COMPLETED:	02:35 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility not providing adequate food service.
Facility elevator disrepair.
Facility not cleaned properly.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On 2/25/2025, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Janette Romero made an unannounced visit to the facility to deliver findings regarding the above allegations. LPA met with Administrator, Amy Banaga who was informed of the purpose of the visit.

It was alleged from approximately October 2022 to April 2023 all meals were served cold and often not cooked to temperature. LPA conducted an interview with Facility Cook (FC), David Padilla who reported being present during the alleged incident timeframe. FC reported all meals are prepared and cooked in the club house kitchen located near the Caprese Dining Room (CDR). FC reported hot foods are placed in food warmers and transported to the Assisted Living (AL) and Memory Care Units (MCUs) where they are then transferred onto industrial steamtables. FC added the steamtables keep the foods hot until facility servers plate and serve the food to the residents. FC reported most resident meals are cooked to order and at a specific safe minimum internal temperature unless otherwise requested by the residents, such as the desired doneness temperatures of steaks.

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Tricia Danielson
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Janette Romero
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 02/25/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/25/2025

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 18-AS-20230403114528

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE ASC, 1650 SPRUCE ST STE 200 MS29-27
RIVERSIDE, CA 92507

FACILITY NAME: MERIDIAN AT LAKE SAN MARCOS, THE	FACILITY NUMBER: 374603339
	VISIT DATE: 02/25/2025

NARRATIVE

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FC reported the facility also serves cold food that is traditionally consumed raw/undercooked such as sandwiches, wraps, salads, or vegetables. FC reported some residents have expressed differences in opinions regarding doneness of steaks/vegetables, but kitchen staff will remake the food in question and accommodate food preferences. FC was unable to recall complaints of food served cold/undercooked during the specific alleged timeframe. FC reported they have completed food safety training and ensure hot foods are cooked to safe minimum internal temperatures using food thermometers. Four (4) of six (6) resident interviews conducted refuted the allegations. One (1) of six (6) resident interviews conducted reported the food was never served undercooked, however, sometimes it was served on a cold plate which would make the food cool down faster. One (1) of six (6) resident interviews conducted explained if their food was cold or not prepared as ordered they would send it back to the kitchen and receive a replacement in a timely manner. Two (2) staff interviews conducted confirmed hot food is transported in food warmers and placed onto steamtables before being served to the residents. Administrator, Amy Banaga reported due to the lapse in time, the facility was unable to locate the California Food Handlers Cards or food safety training records for the kitchen or dining room staff who worked during the alleged incident timeframe.

It was further alleged from approximately April 2022 to April 2023, dining tables shared by residents residing in Independent Living (IL), AL, and MCU were often sticky and not cleaned. The CDR was identified as the only dining room shared and accessible by residents residing in IL, AL, and MCU. LPA conducted an interview with Dining Room Supervisor (DRS) Victoria Taverna who reported being present during most of the alleged incident timeframe. DRS reported facility servers were responsible for bussing tables, wiping them with sanitizing spray, and resetting silverware and napkins for new residents. DRS recalled during breakfast or rush hours some residents would choose to sit at dirty tables where plates from the previous resident(s) had not been cleared, and tables had not been wiped despite clean tables being available. DRS reported facility servers bussed and disinfected tables in a timely manner. DRS was unable to recall any reports of dining room tables being sticky and not cleaned during the alleged timeframe. Six (6) residents were interviewed and refuted the allegations. One (1) of six (6) resident interviews conducted explained the CDR tables have placemats with slight rubberized backing which caused the placemats to adhere to the dining tables after wiping. One (1) of six (6) resident interviews conducted reported the dining tables and placemats did not feel greasy or appeared dirty and the placemats did not stick to the tables once the table tops air dried.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Tricia Danielson
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Janette Romero
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 02/25/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/25/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

Page: 2 of 3

Control Number 18-AS-20230403114528

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE ASC, 1650 SPRUCE ST STE 200 MS29-27
RIVERSIDE, CA 92507

FACILITY NAME: MERIDIAN AT LAKE SAN MARCOS, THE	FACILITY NUMBER: 374603339
	VISIT DATE: 02/25/2025

NARRATIVE

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It was also alleged from approximately February 2023 to March 2023, the elevator shared by residents residing in IL, AL, and MCU made a loud banging noise. LPA conducted an interview with Maintenance Director (MD), Oliver Davila who identified the elevator in question as the club house elevator, also known as “car number 8”. MD was unable to recall the club house elevator being in disrepair specifically during the alleged incident timeframe. MD reported any issues with any of the elevators would have been addressed and repaired immediately. MD has not received complaints of the elevators making loud/unusual noises. MD reported the facility has an ongoing contract with Schindler Elevator Corporation (SEC) who has provided monthly preventative maintenance inspections and as needed repairs since 2012. LPA reviewed copies of SEC invoices confirming the preventative maintenance inspections during the alleged incident timeframe. MD reported the facility has always maintained a conveyance permit to operate all the elevators including the club house elevator. Administrator Banaga reported due to the lapse in time, the facility was unable to locate a copy of the club house elevator’s Conveyance Permit issued by the San Diego District Office for the alleged incident timeframe. Six (6) resident interviews conducted reported the club house elevator has never made unusual noises or been in disrepair for an extended period of time. One (1) of six (6) resident interviews reported the club house elevator may be the facility's most used elevator since it transports residents to the second floor to access the various activity rooms. One (1) of six (6) resident interviews conducted estimated the club house elevator to be in working order ninety percent of the time with maintenance working on it the remaining ten percent.

During the investigation, LPA attempted to make contact with the reporting party to inquire about all the allegations but was unsuccessful. Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is no preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur; therefore, the allegations are unsubstantiated. An exit interview was conducted and a copy of this report was reviewed and provided to Administrator Banaga.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Tricia Danielson
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Janette Romero
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 02/25/2025

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/25/2025

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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