ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) — An assisted living facility in St. George may lose its license after one of its residents got trapped in a freezer.
That resident had dementia and wandered into a kitchen freezer, where she was later found. According to her son, she died eight days later.
ABC4’s The Justice Files looked into the facility, The Meadows at Escalante, and found it had a history of violations.
What happened at The Meadows at Escalante?
It has been eight weeks since Rickie Rubick was found unresponsive inside a freezer at The Meadows at Escalante. Authorities believe Rickie, who was diagnosed with dementia, wandered inside the freezer and got trapped.
Now, her son Tony Rubick cannot help but wonder if anything could have been done.
He said he is haunted by what happened and that he chose this facility, moving his mother in just two months before her death.
“I never considered any of the utilities, the service doors, what they do if somebody gets out. I didn’t look at it in that manner,” Tony said. “I looked at it more for her comfort. Was the room nice, have air conditioning, heating? Those types of things.”
The Justice Files uncovered repeat violations at The Meadows at Escalante, including not ensuring the building was safe and in compliance.
Additionally, a report filed by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services in 2022 suggested an administrator did not properly investigate possible abuse.
Inspectors also noted the facility did not post inspection results as required by law, so visitors like Tony could not see them.
Now, The Meadows at Escalante is operating under a conditional license — with numerous fines amounting to more than $10,000.
The Justice Files contacted The Meadows at Escalante for comment but did not receive a response.
How to background a nursing facility
State inspections
Your first resource should be the Utah Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Licensing. Here, you can look up a state-licensed facility’s most recent inspection.
If nothing shows up when you type in a name, that could mean they don’t have a license. To make sure they are licensed, call the Office of Licensing at 801-538-4242.
Federal inspections
If your facility is certified by Medicare or Medicaid, you can also check for federal inspections here.
- Select the provider, type your city, and type the name of the establishment.
2. Click “view inspection results.”
3. Click “view full report.”
Things to keep in mind
These sites will show you the most recent inspections, but you can also file records requests with these agencies. Additionally, you can specify the request for things like inspections involving injury or death.
It is important to note that the agencies may charge you depending on how far back you want to go.
How to get more records
To file a records request with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, click here and select “Department of Health and Human Services.”
For more information on how to file a records request with the federal government, visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, via this link.
