Assisted living facility homes — like Robinson’s Manor in Altadena — were built as accessible and comfortable spaces for people with disabilities. But, several such homes in Altadena and the Palisades were evacuated or decimated by the fires, leaving residents in disorienting circumstances.
Robinson’s Manor, a small assisted-living organization started by Laura Robinson more than 35 years ago, had two homes in Altadena — one for men and another for women — housing 10 residents total.
One of their female residents, Christa, has autism and has been a part of the Manor’s community for 20 years. “[Christa] quickly became like family,” says Esther Pearl Watson, her sister.
When the Eaton fire tore through Altadena, both structures were evacuated. The men’s home completely burned down.
In addition to dealing with the evacuation of the Manor, Watson evacuated her mother, who lives at the Arbor Vista retirement home in Pasadena less than three miles away. Watson says that the home's managers seemed hesitant to flee. “I think both Arbor and Robinson’s Manor were expecting [authorities] to knock on the door; to be treated as the assisted living homes they are, with extra guidance during emergencies,” she explains. “Instead, we were left to figure it out on our own.”
Homes on Altadena Drive in Februrary. Photos by Daniella Lake.
Retha De Johnette, the administrator for Robinson’s Manor — and daughter of Laura Robinson — says the residents were moved between multiple hotels and Airbnbs in the weeks following the fires.
“They want some stability. They're tired of being moved around. They want to be home in a place that they know,” she says.
The female residents were able to return to the women’s home but the four displaced male residents are still living in an Airbnb which, similarly to the Schlaff family’s, isn’t always safe.
De Johnette recalls a particularly alarming moment when her 74-year-old mother was walking around one of the Airbnbs and slipped and hit her head on a ledge.
“Oh my gosh, it could have been one of them,” De Johnette said, thinking of the disabled male residents — some with visual impairments, intellectual disabilities and seizure disorders — who had to call the Airbnb home.
Robinson’s Manor does have a suitable solution for their four displaced men — moving them into the women’s home temporarily that has four open beds, as well as the comfort of familiar faces.
But, due to legal capacity limits, they aren’t permitted to — even though De Johnette sees it as ideal for the residents’ comfort and mental health.
“We have the room set up already comfortably. There's even a separate bathroom in the back that they could use.” But De Johnette says the California Department of Social Services denied her request before sending any inspectors to look at the space.
De Johnette finds it frustrating, “it's been weeks. Every time I reach out, there's another bit of red tape, another bit of red tape, another bit of red tape, and I just feel like the response has not been person centered…it's only been focused on the rules.”
“Even though somebody's house just burned down, and the whole community is gone, we can't give folks four beds temporarily — until we can get stuff figured out,” says De Johnette.