State suspends foster care license

HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) - An adult foster care home in Ottawa County had its license suspended by the state of Michigan Friday, less than a month after a Target 8 investigation into the home.

Tricia Parsons, the owner of the Renwood Adult Foster Care home in Holland, was so far behind on bills, the utilities in the home were going to be shut off, the Department of Human Services said.

Parsons can appeal that suspension.

A long list of previous complaints were filed. Ten days ago, a complaint about a leaky roof was filed. Previously, an inspector found records that residents lost weight and a staff member served food directly on the table top.

Another worker used a resident's government food assistance card to buy groceries for the house. In the last four years the state conducted 14 special investigations at Renwood.

The state found a place for all 12 residents to stay with family or guardians while long term housing is determined.

Melissa Burgess, who used to work there and whose mother was at Renwood, told 24 Hour News 8 she's been waiting for this day.

"I want to say that I'm relieved. I don't want to say that I'm happy because I'm really not. My heart goes out to these people," she said. "The things that went on there, it just kind of broke my heart and one of the ladies that was staying there, she came to me several times and said I need to get out of here."

The Target 8 investigation found a history of violations and financial problems.

Another woman who declined to be named knows what the residents living conditions were like. Her mother lived at Renwood for three years, and was one of the reasons Target 8 investigated this facility.

"I felt just very uneasy with my mom being there," she said. "When I asked questions I didn't always get an answer or whatever staff that I talked to didn't know what was going on."

Officials with Renwood declined a request from Target 8 for a comment.