Concerns about the health, safety, and lives of residents at the Ghent Rehabilitation and Nursing Center

My office was recently contacted by two of my Columbia County constituents who shared their serious, detailed concerns about the health, safety, and lives of residents at the Ghent Rehabilitation and Nursing Center. The situation was described as a crisis, with serious concerns about a dire, deadly COVID-19 outbreak within the facility, chronic understaffing (as many of the facility staff reportedly had tested positive for COVID-19), and overall poor conditions in terms of room cleanliness (some rooms were reportedly infested with ants, garbage was overflowing), and responsiveness to inquiries from loved ones. My office conferred with the local public health authority who confirmed many of the concerns and shared that they had received numerous complaints from family members with loved ones at the facility.

My office IMMEDIATELY contacted the facility to raise all of these important, specific concerns and also alerted the State Department of Health to undertake an IMMEDIATE, unannounced on-site inspection and investigation. I wrote the Sate DOH (my letter is attached above) and also made repeated calls. State DOH did visit the facility as I requested. I also urged a full review of the situation at the facility (staffing levels, the rampant spread of COVID-19 among residents, cleanliness of rooms, the inability of family members to make timely contact with, and check-in on, their loved ones) to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of residents. I called on the State DOH to IMMEDIATELY examine the specific concerns raised by my constituents and family members of facility residents. I’ll continue carefully monitoring this situation that is also being covered by the Columbia County Morning News "Start Your Day With Yeh".

Protecting my Columbia County residents at this facility is a top priority! I’ll continue closely monitoring this situation and keep calling for health authorities to intervene. If you have concerns about Ghent Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, please email me at jordan@nysenate.gov and I will be in contact with State DOH. I’ll continue urging that the agency take ALL necessary action to protect the health, safety, well-being and lives of residents at the facility.