State seeks to close Mount Dora facility for people with disabilities

MOUNT DORA, Fla. (NSF) - Pointing to what it described as “verified findings of abuse and neglect,” the state Agency for Persons with Disabilities said Tuesday it is seeking the revoke the license and close a Central Florida facility for people with developmental disabilities.

The agency said it would seek closure of the Carlton Palms facility in Mount Dora as soon as residents could be moved to other places such as community group homes.

The agency said it had reached an agreement in 2016 to close Carlton Palms, which is operated by Bellwether Behavioral Health, by March 2019.

“We are actively working to close Carlton Palms as soon as possible, and we have taken multiple actions in the past to hold Bellwether Behavioral Health accountable, including an agreed moratorium on new residents, extensive video monitoring in all homes, an outside monitoring and transition team, along with other administrative sanctions and $10,000 in fines,” Agency for Persons with Disabilities Director Barbara Palmer said in a prepared statement Tuesday. “We will not tolerate any type of abuse or neglect at any of our APD licensed facilities.”