nursing homes

The suit accuses Centers for Care, a company that runs nursing homes across the state, of financial fraud and neglect in four of its facilities. The company currently has a consulting contract with Broome County’s Willow Point nursing home.

The homes are turning away veterans due to lack of staffing.

"The housing situation is just so, so bad that people will live by the river rather than wait in the nursing home for an apartment to open up."

The jobs come with benefits and pay is higher than what many private home health agencies offer. But the county hasn’t gotten many applicants yet.

“There is no transparency here, with this contract."

The proposed agreement between Broome County and Centers for Care, a large health care company, has some legislators concerned.

As the pandemic continues to strain the nation’s health care workforce, the National Guard has increasingly been called on to bridge the gaps.

Staffing shortages at Broome County’s Willow Point Nursing Home have forced officials to declare a state of emergency.

Longtime nurse Lolita McComb came to work early to support her picketing coworkers. But when she clocks into her night shift at 3:00 PM, she said it is likely she will be the only nurse on a floor with 41 patients.

“Our very important caregivers, our essential caregivers, you called them heroes a year ago, and now you’re expecting them to take cuts to their vital benefits.”