A monitor assigned to increase oversight of four problematic nursing homes in New York has revealed improvements in care at all of the facilities in a final report.
Centers for Care, LLC, which operates 32 rehabilitation centers in New York, including one in White Plains and another in Rochester, worked with an Independent Healthcare Monitor (IHM) from July 2023 through July 31, 2026, as part of a $45 million settlement with the state Attorney General's Office in November 2024.
Financial fraud and insufficient staffing problems were found at four of the company's centers at the time of the lawsuit's filing — Martine Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Westchester County, Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Erie County, Beth Abraham
Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Bronx County and Holliswood Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Queens County.
The monitor assigned to improve conditions at these nursing homes says there have been "significant" quality of life and care improvements since their work began in 2023.
Here's what to know about the report's findings.
What problems were found at NY nursing homes?
Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Centers for Care, LLC in June 2023 after an investigation revealed multiple systemic issues.
According to the AG's Office, the owners and related parties allegedly diverted and pocketed tens of millions of taxpayer dollars from the nursing homes and failed to deliver adequate care to residents, partially as a result of inadequate staffing at the facilities.
One resident, at the Martine Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in White Plains, reported not having received a shower for an entire month, causing them to develop a rash, previous USA TODAY Network reporting outlined. And another resident, at the Beth Abraham Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in the Bronx, reported developing gangrene on her foot, "which staff had covered with a sock," according to the lawsuit.
At the time of the settlement announcement, James said the company and its owners "will pay for the harm they caused and will continue to make major reforms at their facilities to ensure residents receive the care they deserve."
The majority of the settlement money — $35 million — is reserved "to directly fund improved resident care and staffing" and is being overseen by an Independent Financial Monitor.
How $35 million helped improve troubled NY nursing homes
The multi-million dollar Resident Care Fund (RCF) has helped increase staffing levels and nursing education as well as allowed for the purchase of wheelchair-accessible vans that increased recreational activity access for residents and new beds, mattresses and furniture at all four facilities, according to the monitor's August report.
Across the four facilities, there were nearly 2,000 new hires between the third quarter of 2023 and the second quarter of 2026 and the amount of time nursing staff attended to residents at all four facilities increased between 16.6% and 54.4% as a result, the report outlines.
Nursing staff retention also improved at all but one facility — Buffalo Center — but changes ranging from free sandwiches for the evening staff to free transportation for weekend staff at the Erie County facility have reduced some of its retention issues.
And the number of falls by residents has been reduced across all four facilities. Beth Abraham Center saw an approximately 16% decrease in falls in a single year, falls at Holliswood Center were reduced by around 39% between 2023 and 2026, Martine Center falls dropped by roughly 37% between 2022 and 2026 and Buffalo Center is continuing to see a decrease in falls after a significant increase in 2025.
"The staffing gains achieved over the course of the monitoring period reflect important changes in culture and hiring practices rather than short-term compliance reactions," the report states. "The increase in nursing supervision and education has clearly elevated the quality of care delivery at the four nursing homes."
As of Aug. 6, around $6.7 million of the overall $35 million RCF remains, the report says, but once all payments approved and made through July 31 will bring the fund's balance to less than $1 million. The report suggested the company use the rest of the funds for the following improvements:
- Continued support for direct care staffing, such as enhanced compensation, retention incentives and recruitment efforts
- Educational sessions to ensure informed consent is integrated into everything done to or on behalf of residents
- Compensation for new hires, including a chief medical officer and ethics and compliance officer
- Equipment, such as indoor and outdoor furniture, medical equipment and supplies that benefit the residents
"The IHM hopes that other nursing home settlements with the New York Office of the Attorney General, and elsewhere, will include this type of remedy as it provides such a significant and direct benefit to so many residents in multiple ways," the report said.
Rochester nursing home with health and safety issues to close
The findings of this report come as a Rochester-area nursing home is under fire for its own years-long health and safety-related issues.
Waterview Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Charlotte, which has failed years of inspections, is closing its doors on Aug. 25 after federal officials pulled Medicare and Medicaid provider agreements following a failure by the operator to address basic health and safety violations, recent USA TODAY Network reporting revealed.
And on Monday, Aug. 17, police said a man in his 60s died after falling from a third-floor window of the facility but further details about how the window was open or if the man was a resident have not been released. State officials are overseeing the transfer of residents to other facilities.
Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers' taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: These NY nursing homes made 'significant' improvement after settlement
