CELJ Statement on Nursing Home Care
Recently, Governor Cuomo announced a focused effort to investigate nursing homes when they violate new requirements that impact resident safety. The state should focus on nursing homes that have a history of poor infection practices and insufficient staffing. In the August 2019 report from Long Term Care Community Coalition, 16 nursing homes in Western NY were rated as one star facilities (list below). During non-pandemic times, these locations received poor ratings based on staffing levels, health inspection outcomes, and other quality measures.
Nursing homes and adult care facilities need to be held to a higher standard. Due to a history of poor quality, many of these homes are now breeding grounds for COVID-19. Staffing levels in nursing homes has been a longstanding problem, and as a result, residents have suffered from abuse and neglect. Effective enforcement of quality care and safety regulations has been lacking – the Department of Health has a history of not issuing fines or taking other action, unless faced with a public outcry. (See press on Emerald South Nursing Home https://buffalonews.com/2019/01/04/emerald-south-nursing-home-officially-closed/).
The Villages of Orleans Health and Rehab Center, Albion
Premier Genesee Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Batavia
Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing
Buffalo Community Healthcare Center
Ellicott Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Buffalo
Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns, Buffalo
Cuba Memorial Hospital, Cuba
Absolut Center for Nursing & Rehab at Aurora Park, East Aurora
Newfane Rehabilitation an Health Care Center
Niagara Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Niagara Falls
The Pines Healthcare & Rehab Centers, Olean
Absolut Center for Nursing & Rehab, Orchard Park
Jennie B. Richmond Chaffee Nursing Home Company, Springville
Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns, Tonawanda
Comprehensive Rehab & Nursing Center at Williamsville
Williamsville Suburban
We are encouraged to hear that the Department of Health will inspect nursing homes that have not complied with various requirements that impact resident safety such as separation and isolation policies, staffing levels, and inadequate personal protective equipment supplies. However, this heightened level scrutiny should be maintained after the pandemic resolves so that residents receive the highest quality of care possible.The Center for Elder Law & Justice joins the Long Term Care Community Coalition in calling on Governor Cuomo and state officials to take emergency actions to help prevent further outbreaks and loss of life. The LTCC Emergency Action Plan can be found online at https://nursinghome411.org/covid-emergency-action-plan/.