Long Island nursing home employees told they will lose their jobs, residents may lose homes a week before the holidays
Several employees at the Cold Spring Hills Center For Nursing And Rehabilitation in Woodbury say they were told the facility will shut down, employees will lose their jobs and residents will have to find a new home with just a week before the holidays.
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Several employees at the Cold Spring Hills Center For Nursing And Rehabilitation in Woodbury say they were told the facility will shut down, employees will lose their jobs and residents will have to find a new home with just a week before the holidays.
News 12 first reported last year about the employee's fight to save their health care benefits.
In 2022, Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the facility claiming it diverted millions of dollars of government funding from resident care.
Craig Muscarella is a physical therapist who has worked at the facility for 28 years.
"We just got an email today saying that, it was like a termination letter, that effective Dec. 23, we would all not have jobs,” said Muscarella.
A potential closure could force residents out entirely.
Jordan Charles, who worked at Cold Spring Hills for over a decade, says he and his coworkers were told the closure would also affect residents.
"They gave us the notice today that the facility is going to be closing, 48 hours for the residents to be removed,” he said.
Marie Jean-Baptiste, another employee of over 27 years at Cold Spring Hills, says she feels horrible knowing long-time residents will have to find a new home.
"I'm here almost 27 years and some of them are here 21, 23, 25 [years],” she said. “So, you move these residents and they're going to go somewhere else. It's not nice, it's not nice at all."
The State Department of Health requires a facility take several steps before it can close its doors for good. Those steps include providing 120 days prior notice, receiving prior written approval for the closure, withholding announcements of a plan to close prior to receiving approval, and notifying each patient, resident, next of kin, sponsor, and physician once granted an approval to close.
In a statement to News 12, a DOH spokesperson says, “The Department has not received nor approved a relocation plan for residents of Cold Spring Hills. If the operator determines the need to relocate residents and submits the required documents, the Department will oversee the process to ensure the residents’ health, safety and wellbeing is the top priority and is protected.”
News 12 tried calling the facility several times to find out about the changes. Staff first asked to call back an hour later. When News 12 called back, staff directed us to the voicemail of an employee at the facility.
Employees tell News 12 they hope someone steps in, including their 1199SEIU union representatives, to save their jobs and the residents homes.
"It's a sad day in Cold Spring Hills,” said Blossom Thomas. "Can you imagine? Right before the holidays. This is terrible."
News 12 also reached out to the Attorney General's Office, the 1199SEIU union reps for the employees, and North Shore LIJ. News 12 is still awaiting a response back.
