BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State Attorney General Letitia James is announcing major reforms at four separate nursing homes after finding financial fraud and resident neglect.
One of the nursing homes named is the Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing.
The four nursing homes must pay $45 million, increase staffing, and make reforms as directed by an independent health care monitor. James said residents were forced to endure mistreatment, and the owners of the facilities profited off of it.
“Residents at these Centers nursing homes endured years of tragic and devastating mistreatment and neglect, while the owners made millions of dollars in profit,” Attorney General James said in a statement Thursday. “Centers’ owners operated the nursing homes with insufficient staffing so that they could pocket tens of millions of taxpayer dollars meant for resident care. Residents suffered tragic harm and their families were often left in the dark or in despair about their loved ones.
"Now, Centers 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. My office will continue our work to make sure that nursing homes are safe and supportive environments for seniors to live out their years with dignity.”