This is the story of the loss of our beautiful Monica, age 26. She was a great artist and jewelry designer. She was generous, loving and caring. She passed away at the room and board that was her residence. Unfortunately, she suffered from ulcerative colitis, diagnosed at age 11. She also had depression issues and high anxiety. Monica spent way too many days, weeks, and months in and out of hospitals for physical and mental health issues.
Monica was living in an unlicensed room and board in Elk Grove, California. This room and board was supposed to be one of the better homes according to Heritage Oaks in Sacramento. Heritage Oaks had screened the person running it and the home. For the first four or five months, Pompae, the man running the home, was around. Monica was stable and well balanced from her medications. Pompae prepared meals for the six people living in the home. He supervised issues that came up among the residents.
Then Pompae decided he needed more income and took a job doing construction work. He’d make breakfast for everyone and go to work early in the morning. He instructed our daughter to make lunch for all of the people living in the home. Monica worried about the other people and became anxious if she wasn’t around to make the lunches. This was not her responsibility. Pompae didn’t pay her to do this. He gave her some extra kitchen privileges. My point is six people, who all had mental health issues, were left on their own all day long. Monica said sometimes they wouldn’t have dinner until 9 P.M.
The day before Monica passed away, I talked to her on the phone and she seemed to be doing okay. She was getting over a bad cold but was less stuffed up. She may have mixed up or taken too much of her prescription medications. We haven’t received the toxicology report yet. I think Pompae may have checked on her once during the night since her roommate was worried about her. He left for work at 6:30 A.M. When her roommate couldn’t wake Monica up at 9:30 A.M., she called Pompae and he told her to call 911. The paramedics arrived at 10 A.M. They worked on our daughter for an hour but couldn’t get her to breathe again. My husband and I received a call from the police department that afternoon. The worst call of our lives.
Pompae shouldn’t be running a room and board but, after talking to APS (Adult Protective Services), I’ve learned there is very little accountability and few regulations these room and boards need to follow. Many of them are just collecting rent.
This needs to change.
WE RECEIVED THE WORST CALL OF OUR LIVES by Rhonda Meth
Monica