EUREKA, Mo. – A senior living facility that is advertised as a resort-style community in Eureka is under investigation by Missouri’s top cop.
It comes after the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) reported on Victorian Gardens, stating that they found “operation of a long-term care facility without a license.”
According to a DHSS spokesperson, the lack of a license would mean a facility “would not be inspected/surveyed to ensure standards of care are being met” and that “regulators are limited in what complaints they can investigate.”
Tim Devine discovered this after he took his grandmother there.
“Most people only go through this once or twice in their life,” he explained.
The inspection by DHSS found alleged unlicensed activity in August 2023, with a warning to either get licensed or limit senior health services to the point that they would not need a license. DHSS said failure to comply would mean involvement from Missouri’s attorney general.
FOX 2 went inside to get Victorian Garden’s response, as the state said regulators are still working on compliance. A representative inside said they’re confident this will be cleared up because she said they are operating independent living and they don’t need a license—that it’s basically apartment living for seniors.
An attorney for Victorian Gardens added later that staff believes they’ve taken the necessary steps to address DHSS concerns and that the state has not yet reviewed the facility’s response, but the business believes regulators will be satisfied.
“It’s good that there’s some accountability; from what they’ve said, this stuff is complex,” Devine added.
Devine encourages families to do their own research.
“Just look honestly at what your family member needs or are they someone who can thrive in independent living? Are they someone who’s going to need more, like an assisted living? Educate yourself and probably do a little more research on the facility,” he said.
To check on a Missouri facility’s license status, inspection reports can be found here.
