With its owner facing legal problems and employees complaining about not getting paid, the New York Department of Health is aware of "issues" at the Batavia Nursing Home, but isn't giving out any information about the status of the facility.
"Our priority is the care and safety of the residents," said Jeffrey Hammond, spokesman for the department. "We are working through several issues with the nursing home."
The state health department is the regulatory agency that overseas New York's nursing homes.
Hammond referred nearly every question The Batavian had about the home to his two-sentence his statement.
Jerry Fasano's mother is a resident at the home and he visits her daily. He said recently a representative of the Department of Health has been at the home every day. He had a chance to speak with the representative on Monday and she told him the state has begun a receivership process (take custody of the nursing home).
Asked specifically about whether receivership proceedings were under way, Hammond referred to his previous statement.
Today, employees received their paychecks that were due last Friday.
One employee immediately cashed the check at her credit union and between the time she cashed it and got home, her home phone caller ID showed three missed calls from the credit union. She won't be able to call the credit union until tomorrow to find out what the calls were about.
Rather than deposit the check, she said, she took the cash, "because I've got bills to pay and groceries to buy." She wanted to make sure she had the money.
When the nursing home supervsor told employees today they would get paid, she said, "We were running down the halls. It was like Christmas for us."
Even so, she said, another three or four employees have quit and if paychecks are delayed this Friday, even more may walk off the job.
Fasano said he's impressed with the professionalism of the remaining staff.
"It should also be noted that even though the staff is not being paid they are continuing to give the residents the care they need and deserve," Fasano said. "This includes all of the staff from maintenance and housekeeping to the hospital administrator.
"I feel that I can give an accurate description of the staff, in that I have come to know them all very well as I am there each and every morning to visit my mother," Fasano added.
Owner Marc Korn, who has been accused by federal authorities of fraud, visited the facility today -- entering by the back door, according to sources. He visited the home's administrator and left, saying nothing to staff.
Korn is due back in federal court tomorrow.
The Amherst-based businessman has not returned calls nor answered emails from The Batavian seeking clarification or comment.
The Department of Health conducted an inspection of the Batavia Nursing Home in May and found 23 deficiencies, according to online records. That matches the statewide average. Hammond said as of this morning all of the deficiencies had been corrected.
None of the deficiencies constituted actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
It's sad to see trouble like
It's sad to see trouble like this. A special thank you to the dedicated employees who do what they do during all of this turmoil to assist needy residents!