Nursing Home That Falsely Declared Woman Dead Had Previous Violations

PORT JEFFERSON, NY — The Port Jefferson nursing home which pronounced a woman dead before she was later found to still be breathing at a funeral home Saturday has racked up $22,000 in health and safety violations over the past decade, records show.

Waters Edge Rehab & Nursing Center's violations since 2013 include those relating to inadequate quality of care and supervision, according to New York State Department of Health records. The violations were first reported by Newsday.

In February 2022, inspectors cited the facility for failing to document a resident who had fallen on the floor, failing to immediately notify the family members of a patient who was sent to the hospital, and failing to immediately care for a resident who had an open wound which later developed into a stage-three pressure sore, records show.

Between Jan. 1, 2019 and Dec. 31, 2022, the nursing home received a total of 91 complaints from residents or family members — well above the state average. Also during that time period, the facility received a total of 14 standard health and life safety code citations, though the number fell below the state average none of the citations were related to actual harm or immediate jeopardy, according to records.

Notably, the New York State Department of Health lists the facility as having an overall 3-star rating, with five stars for quality of life and four stars for preventative care. On the other hand, the home scores only a two-star rating for resident safety, as well as for resident status, which includes data for residents who lose too much weight and lose the ability to move.

Saturday's incident began at 11:15 a.m. when the 82-year-old was pronounced at Water's Edge Rehab & Nursing Center in Port Jefferson, according to Suffolk County police. More than two hours later, she was taken to O.B. Davis Funeral Home in Miller Place, and, nearly three hours after being declared dead, she was found to be breathing, police said.

The woman was transported to the hospital and the case is being referred to the state attorney general’s office, according to police.

Patch reached out to Water's Edge Rehab & Nursing Center for comment.