The State - News from Aug. 5, 1986

More than $115,000 in fines have been levied against a nursing home in Contra Costa County and state authorities are acting to revoke its license after the deaths of two patients. Investigators said a resident with no teeth choked to death at Cypress Convalescent Hospital in Pleasant Hill when she was given food that required chewing. In the other case, a faulty pacemaker reportedly was ignored until its user suffered a fatal heart attack. Kathy Daigle, vice president of ARA Services Corp. of Houston, which owns 280 such homes across the country, said Cypress’ problems were “an isolated situation” and a “morale problem.” Last April, the firm agreed to a $4.5-million settlement with families of three people who died in another ARA nursing home four years ago.