Oasis Living Quarters in Fort Lauderdale has come under scrutiny following a series of complaints and citations from the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration. A comprehensive 30-page report has unveiled troubling activities at the facility. It is alleged that Oasis is evicting its senior residents without adequate notice, while simultaneously transforming the complex into luxury apartments.
On a recent Friday, workers were observed removing drywall as senior residents continued their move-out process. This follows an emergency injunction granted by a judge after Rema Comras, an 88-year-old resident’s family, filed a lawsuit in March. The lawsuit highlighted the lack of proper notification regarding the evictions.
This incident reflects a broader national trend of similar cases being tracked by attorneys, originating from the Northeast. The state’s unannounced inspection report sheds light on peculiar exchanges between the inspector and Oasis Living Quarters’ administrator, identified as Steven Gottlieb in state documents.
Gottlieb denied any evictions, attributing the decline in resident numbers to natural causes and staff issues. However, his explanations were inconsistent. Resident interviews revealed that they were summoned to a mandatory meeting on March 5, where they were told to vacate for renovations.
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Testimony from a resident during a court hearing for the temporary injunction stated, “You’ll have 30 days to move out. When you move back, there will be no more assisted living, no more memory care, no more food service, and no more buses.”
The inspector’s report notes that the administrator eventually admitted to the impending departure of residents. When asked for written notice, the inspector was presented with a February letter detailing dining room improvements and facility projects, indicating potential temporary service disruptions.
The Societal Shift
- This situation may lead to increased awareness and concern among residents of similar facilities about their rights and protections.
- The incident highlights the importance of regulatory oversight in senior living communities, which could lead to stricter enforcement of regulations.
- Families of residents in such facilities might be prompted to seek legal guidance to ensure the wellbeing of their loved ones.
- The trend of converting senior living facilities into luxury apartments could affect housing availability for seniors, potentially exacerbating housing shortages.
- There could be broader implications for local real estate markets as developers might see similar opportunities in other regions, influencing neighborhood demographics and infrastructure.