Edgewater At Waterman Village v. Youngren
Edgewater At Waterman Village v. Youngren
Opinion of the Court
The Edgewater At Waterman Village appeals an administrative order in favor of Stella Youngren, a one-time resident of Edgewater’s nursing home, and an Alzheimer’s disease patient. The order determined that Edgewater did not have the authority to transfer Youngren to another facility. We affirm.
On appeal, Edgewater raises several issues. First, Edgewater argues that the hearing officer erred in finding that it could meet Youngren’s needs. Cf. In re Involuntary Discharge or Transfer of J.S. by Ebenezer Hall, 512 N.W.2d 604 (Minn.App. 1994). We disagree. Edgewater specializes in patients with dementia. Section 400.0255(15)(b), Florida Statutes (1999), provides that a facility like Edgewater has to prove that its actions are justified by clear and convincing evidence. Since there was no showing that Youngren’s needs would create some extraordinary burden on Edgewater justifying her transfer, it failed to show by clear and convincing evidence that it could not meet those needs.
Edgewater states that because of the erroneous decision regarding Edgewater’s ability to meet Youngren’s heeds, the hearing officer concluded that it was not necessary to rule on whether the Youngren was a danger to the other residents. Edge-water is correct that the alleged danger to other residents is a distinct ground for transfer or discharge, but the order does not suggest that the hearing officer ignored the safety issue.
AFFIRMED.
. Although the hearing officer did not make a specific finding that Youngren was not a danger to the other residents, the hearing officer did state that the reasons given did not justify the transfer, thus implicitly addressing this ground for transfer and rejecting it, as it was one of the proffered reasons for transfer.
. Edgewater also argued that the hearing officer erred in determining that there was insufficient documentation to justify the transfer. This issue is mooted because of our agreement with the hearing officer that the transfer was improper on substantive grounds.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.