Elder Care Home Concerns in Garland County

Three Garland County women say the process of finding care for an elderly loved one resulted in tragic consequences.

There is a laundry list of complaints from a group of women in Hot Springs against Saved By Grace Care Home.

"Saved By Grace was a really pretty place I thought," said Debbie Miller.

Those were Miller's first thoughts when she visited the facility trying to find care for her mother.

She said her thoughts quickly turned to suspicion when she asked the owner to hold a 4,000 check the same day she visited the home, her bank manager gave her the news.

"The check just cashed and cleared through the drive-thru about five minutes ago, so she cashed the check before I even made to the bank."

Miller said her mother wasn't supposed to go to Saved By Grace for another month.

Miller said that's when she started checking into owner Debbie Williams' background.

"I went to the courthouse just to see if their were any records on her and there were countless records and judgments against her from monetary to not paying employees, forgery, neglect."

She discovered a letter stating the department of labor is garnishing Williams wages to pay back those employees.

"I didn't know who to turn to so I started with the agency on aging and they provided me with the papers showing me it was a bad place to go."

Then the office of long term care.

"They asked me how many people she had, at that time she had four my mother would have made five. They said she's only allowed three, because in the state of Arkansas 3 and under is all you can have," said Miller.

Two other women said they've experienced the same thing.

Mae Lou Elllis said her mother passed away from what she believe is neglect.

"She was dehydrated apparently wasn't getting her meds, improper care."

Next Susie Harris, said her mother-in-law lived in the home.

"We paid her for a month in advance, mom went back in the hospital after two weeks so we asked for refund for the balance we never got it."

That refund 2-thousand dollars.

"Years have passed and we have not been able to effectively shut this woman down from hurting other people," said Harris.

We tried contacting Saved By Grace owner, Debbie Williams and never got a call back.

We even went to the last known business address and were told by a man that she moved her company two months ago.

Also, State Representative John Vines just sent in this statement saying, "We need to take every action to encourage and promote those that play by the rules and punish those individuals that simply work the system to take advantage of our parents and grandparents in their advancing years."

Vine also says he wants to take appropriate action in the next legislative session to ensure this type of situation does not occur again.