Sodus nursing home criticized over conditions

Sodus, N.Y. (WHAM) — Marydel Wypych, chair of the Elder Justice Committee of Metro Justice, said the organization’s mission is to ensure dignity of life for those in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

For years, she said, there’s been negative chatter about the Sodus Rehabilitation & Nursing Center — something Wypych is all too familiar with.

“Over the years, there have been many reports on poor care at this nursing home,” Wypych said. “Unfortunately, things don’t seem to change.”

On an EJC chart, based off data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, on a 1-5 scale, Sodus ranks a 1 overall. Health inspections are rated a 1, staffing is a 3, and quality is a 1.

“If we look at their ratings, their health inspections are down,” Wypych said. “Their overall rating is well below average.”

One former resident who wanted to remain anonymous said he was kicked out of the facility for being too vocal about the conditions in his room. He said, at one point, he had maggots on his foot.

“It’s not pleasant,” he said. “I mean, you get maggots on you, what are you going to say?”

He also complained about flies.

“It’s flies galore,” he said. “I had fly swatters in my room. It never stopped.”

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Staffing was also an issue, he said.

“The place is severely, severely understaffed, (but) I’m not going to bury the staff,” he said. “There were people there who cared.”

In an email, Shaina Olton, the nursing home’s administrator, said she can’t comment on individual residents and remains committed to protecting their privacy. Olton shared social media posts that reflect positive social media reviews from two employees. The posts say their priority is their residents and staffing challenges are a widespread problem. Olton also shared photos of upgrades and improvements in and around the facility.

Wypych, however, wants local leaders to act.

“We’re asking them to get in contact with the Department of Health and perhaps have a hearing, set up a hearing with the health committees, the Assembly and the Senate health committees,” she said.

In a statement, Marissa Crary, public information director for the New York State Department of Health, declined to comment on Sodus.

The Department declines to comment on matters that may, or may not, be the subject of an investigation. New Yorkers with a complaint about a nursing home should contact the State’s Centralized Complaint Intake directly at 1-888-201-4563, so that appropriate action can be taken.