A Merida shelter for 19 elderly tenants was shut down and its owner was accused of providing substandard living conditions.
Residents of the Jesús de la Misericordia home lacked health care and slept in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, according to state authorities. Operators also lacked permits to run such a shelter, according to the state Commission on Human Rights (Codhey).
The deteriorating facility failed to provide basic security and medical services required in running a nursing home, officials said.
Multiple state social service agencies descended on the group home, which faced Santiago park. On the instructions of Gov. Mauricio Vila, the state welfare agency arranged for new housing in a private hostel.
A state DIF bus and an ambulance arrived to transport the residents, many of whom were confined to wheelchairs. Traffic was closed at Calle 72 and 59 to accommodate the vehicles, local media reports.
“After years of watching the owner of this elderly shelter located in Santiago abuse, neglect and mistreat its residents it is finally closed down by all the state agencies,” said Kimmy Suki, founder of Yucatan Giving Outreach. “This has been a long time coming.”
Landy Carrillo Salazar, the legal owner of the home, collapsed at the scene, requiring help from paramedics. She later denied the home was in bad repair, blaming the state actions on a journalist’s campaign to discredit her.
The home operated for 24 years in the Centro.
Sources: El Diario, Reporteros Hoy
