Thousands of complaints are filed by residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities in New York, but the state's primary oversight program is lacking, AARP New York found in a new report released this month.
The group pointed to 5,000 complaints made between Oct. 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, growing by 37% between the first three months of that time period and the final three months.
The statistics were compiled by AARP New York using data collected by the State Office for the Aging.
Advocates for older New Yorkers and residents of nursing homes have been calling for more funding for the state's nursing home ombudsman program. Lawmakers are weighing a $15 million proposal for the program as part of the state budget in order to provide for more people to conduct tours and reviews of nursing homes and other assisted living facilities in New York.
“Lack of adequate funding is having an adverse impact on the care provided to our loved ones living in nursing homes and other adult care facilities,” said AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel. “The program is supposed to act as the eyes and ears of residents and their families, yet so many aren’t getting the chance to have their concerns formally documented because the (long-term care ombudsman program) is not sufficiently funded to carry out its oversight responsibilities. The Governor and state legislators should correct this in the next state budget.”
The state Senate proposed increasing funding for the program, and the state Assembly provided a larger increase of adding $12.5 million. A budget was due to pass on April 1 in New York, but now is several days late.
The hope is the funding would allow the program to hire 235 full-time staff to conduct weekly visits at every nursing home and adult care facility in New York.
A focus has been placed on nursing homes in recent years since the onset of the pandemic more than three years ago, determinations the state undercounted nursing home residents' deaths in the early months and a since-rescinded requirement that nursing homes turn away COVID-positive patients.