He may not have a choice. County and state officials have repeatedly cited Yelton's for failing to protect its residents. John Wasson, Cleveland County Department of Social Services director, has spent months trying to convince the state to suspend the home's license. For now, the state has decided to try to help Yelton's with staff training and support. If Yelton's doesn't improve quickly, Wasson wants the facility closed.
People deserve a safe place to live.
Owner Joan Yelton defends her rest home, and says if there's trouble, the mental health system is to blame. Psychiatric hospitals turned to rest homes more than 30 years ago when the state decided patients should live closer to home. Over the years, some larger rest homes, like Yelton's, decided to fill their beds almost exclusively with mentally ill patients. Joan Yelton and other rest home owners say the state failed to train staff in the facilities or support residents with treatment and daily activities. Few residents see psychiatrists more than once every three months.