Residents' families, employees demand NYS DOH take action as Rosa Coplon nursing home closure looms

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Family members of residents, union employees, elected leaders and others picketed Tuesday in front of the New York State Department of Health offices on Main Street in downtown Buffalo.

It's what some are calling a "Hail Mary" attempt to keep the Rosa Coplon Living Center on the Weinberg Campus open.

The state DOH approved Weinberg's plan to close Coplon by the end of next month.

About 120 residents and their families are scrambling to track down new nursing homes.

The union representing 300 employees on the Weinberg Campus, 1199 SEIU, said more than 100 employees at Coplon will be out of a job.

Longtime employee Shakia Jones said it's heartbreaking.

"The residents not knowing where they're going," said Jones. "We not knowing what's going to happen. It's just been crazy. I haven't been able to sleep."

The union is calling on the Department of Health to approve receivership to Lineage Care Group.

While we're told Lineage has expressed interest to the DOH, a spokesperson for Governor Kathy Hochul tells us no official application has been submitted.

“Our top priority is ensuring the safety and welfare of residents and their families following Weinberg’s decision to present its closure plan to the State Department of Health," the governor's spokesperson said. "The depth of Weinberg’s financial problems means that holding out months for a receivership would create an unacceptable risk for the residents’ safety and welfare. For these reasons, DOH is moving forward with the orderly transfer of residents to nearby facilities that will deliver the care and support they need. The State is committed to working with any entity interested in purchase of the Weinberg facility with the goal of sustaining these beds in the long term.” 

The union said Lineage just learned on Monday that the application is required.

"I have looked at over 15 facilities, said Carol Czarniak, whose mother is a longtime Coplon resident. "I can't get into one of them, because they have no beds available for my mother."

Dr. John Fudyma, interim division chief of general internal medicine and geriatrics with the University at Buffalo, said many hospitals are also finding it difficult to find openings at nursing homes to which they can discharge patients.

"Being supportive, reassuring their loved ones, reorienting their loved ones in the event that there is a move to a new setting," Dr. Fudyma said.

Lindsay Heckler, director of policy with the Center for Elder Law and Justice said every resident has the right to be informed of what their transfer options are and to be included in those conversations.

"At the end of the day, this is their home and it's extremely traumatic," Heckler said. "And there should have been more communication openly before it got to this point."

For more resources from the Center for Elder Law and Justice, click here.