Frail care centre closed amid abuse allegations

The notorious Serenity Haven Frail Care Centre in Discovery was closed down on Wednesday, May 21, in the wake of numerous reports of wrongdoing against its elderly residents.

At their arrival at the centre, officials from the Directorate Enforcing Older Persons Rights (DEOPR) and the Gauteng Department of Social Development discovered that one of the eight remaining patients had passed away during the night. Dried vomit on her nightclothes indicates that the patient may have gotten sick during the night and choked on her vomit in her sleep.

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One official questioned how this was only discovered in the morning, since patients are supposed to be checked on regularly during the night. Paramedics had allegedly determined that the patient passed away between 23:00 and 02:00.

An inspection of the premises and conversations with the haven owner, George Mouton, by DEOPR CEO Hennie Els left him visibly upset at conditions at the centre and the wide-ranging non-compliance with relevant regulations.

The seven remaining patients were, after a thorough inspection of the property, removed to a safe state-run facility, where they will be housed for six months at no cost, until families can make alternative arrangements for them.

The haven has been at the centre of controversy since it emerged in December that a long-time employee had allegedly stolen in excess of R2.1m over a period of about four years, leaving the centre in financial dire straits. This case is still under investigation by Roodepoort police.

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At around the same time, reports emerged of abuse and neglect of patients and staff by Mouton, who insisted the allegations were untrue and made by the same staff member who had allegedly stolen the funds.

The Record previously reported that Mouton had secured help from a local marketing and accounting firm, Maestro Assist, to help market the centre and try to get its finances back in line.

According to Rupert September from the firm, they soon realised that there was more wrong at the haven than meets the eye.

“We realised that there were numerous compliance problems, and we were convinced by the owner that these problems were all caused by the employee, who was since let go.

“We got to work trying to sort out the finances and address the compliance issues, but found the owner himself blocking our efforts. Our efforts to put in best-practice processes, both in terms of the management of the centre and in the daily care of the patients in place, were derailed by the owner at every turn, thus prompting our withdrawal from the centre.”