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A recent New York state audit has uncovered major issues with how the state’s Department of Health is overseeing adult care facilities. The review looked at inspections and complaint investigations from 2018 through 2024 and found that the Department often missed required inspection deadlines, failed to make sure problems were fixed, and didn’t fully investigate many complaints.
In many cases, inspections didn’t happen within the 12- to 18-month window they were supposed to. Some were even delayed by as much as five years. When auditors visited these facilities, they found dangerous conditions like crumbling stairs, refrigerators and dishwashers that weren’t working properly, expired medications, and even drug and alcohol paraphernalia left out in staff areas.
The audit also found that the Department didn’t have proof that facilities corrected violations they were cited for, and many problems from previous inspections were still there. On top of that, complaints from residents and families were often not investigated thoroughly or on time. Some serious complaints took months to address, and reports were sometimes never sent to the people who filed them.
How Has the Department of Health Responded?
In response to the audit, the Department of Health pointed to staffing shortages as a major challenge affecting their ability to keep up with inspections and investigations. However, they also claim they are working to improve how these processes are managed. Nonetheless, the serious gaps revealed by this recent audit cannot be overlooked.
For the residents of these facilities and their families, these failures represent a breakdown in the protections meant to keep vulnerable adults safe. When inspections are delayed, violations remain uncorrected, and complaints go unanswered, residents are left exposed to unsafe and neglectful conditions.
Nursing Home Neglect and Abuse Demand Legal Action
The findings in this audit are disturbing, but they are not new, and they are not surprising to families who have seen their loved ones suffer in adult care facilities. What this report highlights is only a fraction of the broader, deeply rooted issues that exist in far too many facilities across New York. Chronic understaffing, delayed inspections, and poor enforcement have allowed neglect and unsafe conditions to go unchecked for years.
At Dalli & Marino, we have seen firsthand the impact of this neglect. Our firm has investigated many of the same kinds of failures detailed in the audit: residents left without proper care, facilities ignoring clear safety violations, and families kept in the dark until it’s too late. When government oversight falls short, legal action is often the only way to hold these facilities accountable and force change.
If someone you love has been harmed in an adult care facility, whether due to neglect or abuse, contact us today. We’re here to help you understand your legal options and fight for the care your family deserves.
