Mt. Hood Senior Living shuts down due to serious violations

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A senior living facility in Sandy has abruptly shut down, leaving family members scrambling to relocate their loved ones.

According to the state, there were eight serious violations uncovered by the Oregon Department of Human Services at the Mt. Hood Senior Living, including one that may have led to a resident's death. The facility was forced to shut down after its license was suspended.

The facility was found to have dangerous and unsafe kitchen and meal practices, a lack of essential training and failing to provide a safe environment.

ODHS also found that the center failed to properly care for and monitor residents. There was even one resident who allegedly fell four times in four days, which led to a fractured back.

In December, a resident walked out of the facility. Ki Soon Hyun's, also known as "Harmony" had Alzheimer's and wandered away from the facility. Roughly one day later, she was found dead on Christmas morning due to hypothermia.

"I believe around 2 (p.m.), we received a call that a resident was missing from Mt. Hood Senior Living. And when we went to the facility, we were told that she had been seen on camera, I believe around 9 a.m. leaving the facility or outside the facility on surveillance camera," said Sam Craven with the Sandy Police Department. "We consider it an emergency situation, and every available police officer in the area is sent to that call. We consider it very serious. It's a life-threatening situation."

ODHS said in a statement, that "Residents' needs are the top priority when an order of suspension is issued."

The facility has 10 days to contest the suspension.

KOIN 6 News reached out to the facility, but they declined to comment. However, an unnamed current employee at the center said they are heartbroken and that residents are like their family.