Neglect of man with open lesion.

The owner and manager of a Palmetto nursing home has been arrested on a charge of neglecting an elderly person in connection with a large lesion found on the face of a resident there.

According to reports, 85-year-old Ronald Larsen began living at the Palmetto Guest House in June, 2005. Jacqueline Dorelien took over the home in July of the following year.

The lesion was present when Dorelien took charge, but grew during the next few months, eventually rupturing into a large open wound.  The report says Dorelien failed to get medical help for the man, despite the advice of doctors.

The arrest came two days after the state agency that oversees nursing homes started action to revoke the Palmetto Guest House’s license for allegedly failing to provide adequate care.

The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration issued the complaint Wednesday.

In it, the agency accused the facility of:

• Failing to provide care and services appropriate to the residents’ needs.

• Failing to arrange for necessary physician appointments.

• Violating the Assisted Living Facility residents’ bill of rights by failing to provide “adequate and appropriate” health care.

“A facility’s first priority should be the safety and well-being of its residents,” AHCA Secretary Andrew Agwunobi said in a statement issued with the complaint. “It is unacceptable when the management of a facility does not take this responsibility seriously. Our action in revoking their license is necessary to protect this most vulnerable population. The agency will continue to monitor this facility during the administrative complaint process to ensure the safety of its residents.”