Allegations of ‘neglect and exploitation’ at Steele Creek assisted living facility

State regulators document deficiencies; Facility says it is 'steadfast in delivering quality care'

The following article appeared in the May 8, 2024, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.

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90-bed Wickshire Steele Creek can’t accept new residents and is at risk of losing its license, documents show

Wickshire Steele Creek is one of eight facilities operated by Tennesee-based Wickshire Senior Living, two of which are in North Carolina, the company’s website shows.

by Cristina Bolling 

State regulators have barred a Steele Creek assisted living facility from accepting new residents and are pushing to revoke its license, after investigators found a string of deficiencies last fall that they said endangered residents, including improper supervision and inadequate training, state documents show.

And a more recent review, from February, concluded that two residents at the facility were sexually abused by a former maintenance director and that residents were sometimes not given their medications, and in one case given the wrong medication, according to reports from the N.C. Division of Health Service Regulation, which is a division of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

The 90-bed Wickshire Steele Creek community on South Tryon Street has been barred from accepting new residents since last September as a result of earlier alleged violations, according to state documents obtained by The Ledger under state public records laws. Wickshire is appealing a January decision by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to revoke its license to operate, documents show.

It remains open and licensed as it awaits an appeal hearing, which a state administrative hearings official told The Ledger is tentatively scheduled for late July. 

A spokesperson for Tennessee-based Wickshire Senior Living, the parent company of Wickshire Steele Creek, sent this statement to The Ledger Wednesday morning:

Wickshire continues to operate under our license and steadfast in delivering quality care and services to our residents.  Our commitment to upholding regulatory licensure standards for Adult Care Homes is unwavering, as demonstrated by the various improvements we've implemented to enhance compliance. 

[Edited on 5/8/24 at 9:20 a.m. to add statement from Wickshire Senior Living spokesperson.]

In replies to state regulators, the company has asked that the findings be reversed and said the incidents were less serious than regulators believe. The company also said it has complied with state regulations and that it can fix deficiencies within a reasonable time period. 

State regulators have not publicly called attention to the findings. Some of the information is available on the state’s website.