ALBANY — An independent healthcare monitor has concluded that four New York nursing homes run by Centers for Care, LLC showed marked improvements in resident care and quality of life after three years of court-ordered oversight, according to a final report issued this month.
Background and scope of oversight
The monitor worked with the facilities from July 2023 through July 31, 2026, as part of a settlement reached with the New York State Attorney General’s Office in November 2024. The agreement followed a lawsuit filed in June 2023 that alleged financial misconduct and chronic staffing shortfalls at multiple Centers for Care locations across the state.
The company operates 32 rehabilitation and long-term care centers in New York, including facilities in White Plains and Rochester. The monitor was assigned specifically to increase oversight and drive reforms at four centers identified in the lawsuit as having serious problems:
- Martine Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing — Westchester County
- Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing — Erie County
- Beth Abraham Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing — Bronx County
- Holliswood Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare — Queens County
Findings and examples cited in the lawsuit
When Attorney General Letitia James filed the suit, state investigators alleged that owners and related parties had improperly diverted and retained tens of millions of taxpayer dollars intended for resident care. The complaint pointed to inadequate staffing as a primary reason residents did not receive appropriate care.
The lawsuit included distressing resident accounts used to support the state’s claims. Investigators reported one resident at the Martine Center had not been provided a shower for a month and developed a rash. Another resident at the Beth Abraham Center allegedly developed gangrene on a foot that staff had reportedly covered with a sock, according to court documents.
“The company and its owners will pay for the harm they caused and will continue to make major reforms at their facilities to…”
That statement accompanied the settlement announcement and underscored the state’s expectation of ongoing remediation by the provider.
Monitor report: improvements documented
The independent healthcare monitor’s final report states that the four targeted facilities made what the monitor described as “significant” quality of life and care improvements during the oversight period. The report attributes these gains to sustained supervision and the implementation of corrective measures required by the settlement.
The monitor’s work included direct reviews of clinical care, staffing patterns and facility operations, and it required regular reporting to the Attorney General’s Office. While the final report highlights progress, the oversight process itself extended for three years, reflecting the depth of issues the state sought to address.
What changed at the facilities
The final report credits the improvements to a combination of interventions mandated under the settlement and ongoing monitoring. The public summary of the monitor’s findings points to better care practices, more consistent staff presence and enhanced quality-of-life measures for residents at each center.
| Facility | County | Monitor period |
|---|---|---|
| Martine Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing | Westchester | 7/2023–7/31/2026 |
| Buffalo Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing | Erie | 7/2023–7/31/2026 |
| Beth Abraham Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing | Bronx | 7/2023–7/31/2026 |
| Holliswood Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare | Queens | 7/2023–7/31/2026 |
State response and next steps
The Attorney General’s office reached a roughly $45 million settlement with Centers for Care in November 2024 that included funding and reforms intended to remedy the deficiencies the state identified. The monitor’s report functions as a capstone to the oversight phase required by that settlement.
While the final report documents progress, the broader legal and regulatory actions that prompted the monitoring remain instructive for other providers and families. The case highlighted vulnerabilities in how publicly financed long-term care funds are used and the risks that staffing shortfalls pose to resident health and safety.
What families should know
- Monitors and state enforcement can require changes but sustained improvement requires ongoing management and staffing.
- If family members have concerns about care at a nursing home, they can contact the facility’s administration and the New York State Department of Health complaint unit for guidance.
- Past investigations and settlements can be reviewed through Attorney General and state health department public records for families evaluating a facility.
The independent monitor’s final report marks a significant milestone in a three-year effort to correct systemic failures at four Centers for Care locations. For residents and families who endured lapses in care, the report offers documentation that reforms were implemented; for regulators and lawmakers, it provides a case study in the challenges and limits of enforcement where patient care and public funds intersect.
Camille Rousseau is the WE NEWS state correspondent covering health care and government accountability.
