An investigation has revealed alarming conditions at an unauthorised care home in La Manchica, a village in the Costa Blanca region of Murcia, Spain. The facility, which was reportedly operating under the guise of a rural guest house named Pension Hakuna Matata, was brought to light following the hospitalisation of an 84-year-old British woman in critical condition.
On March 16, emergency services responded to a call to the farmhouse and discovered the elderly woman in a distressing state, described as ‘on the verge of a coma’ and suffering from severe dehydration and kidney failure. Medical staff noted the appalling conditions of the room where she was found, which was reportedly littered with animal excrement, urine, and general refuse. The woman was also noted to be emaciated with multiple infected wounds.
The property is owned by a British couple who acquired the site, including a bar, in 2018. However, despite the owners claiming that the establishment had been closed for more than a decade, local residents and social media evidence suggested that the farmhouse was, in fact, operating as an unauthorised care facility known as ‘Casa Care’. This establishment failed to meet the regulatory requirements for care homes, as confirmed by the Department of Social Policy of the Region of Murcia. The home purported to provide 'care services for you and your loved ones' as a senior citizen residence.
Local emergency workers are familiar with the farmhouse, having been called multiple times over the past years to care for elderly individuals residing there. One staff member at the Fuente Alamo Emergency Room remarked on the peculiar nature of the home, stating, "Every time we go and enter the house, the conditions are disgusting. Everything is filthy." It has been reported that animals, including goats, numerous cats, and dogs were present within the premises.
Heightened suspicions emerged when paramedics requested information about the elderly woman's medical history from the owners of the guesthouse. They were surprised to receive a folder containing her personal records, which raised questions about the legitimacy of the establishment. An emergency worker expressed disbelief: "What kind of hotel or bar has all that documentation?" The worker further stated that upon entering the facility, they found a neglected woman who was already missing a kidney and incapable of receiving intravenous fluids due to severe dehydration.
Residents in the neighbourhood have also voiced their concerns over the operation of the farmhouse, labelling it a 'pretty strange place.' The situation has intensified scrutiny over local authorities' response, particularly after a nurse reported the incident to the Guardia Civil, who responded that they could not act without a formal complaint. A previous inspection of the farmhouse was conducted in 2020 by Cartagena City Council's Social Services and local police, yet no records indicate decisive municipal action following that inquiry.
As authorities and local services are now faced with ongoing concerns regarding the wellbeing of elderly residents in such facilities, inquiries have been made to the owners for further comment on the situation.
Source: Noah Wire Services