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A family in Rochester, New York, has accused Waterview Heights Rehabilitation and Nursing Center of failing to protect a vulnerable resident who was allegedly sexually assaulted by another resident. The incident is one of several troubling claims of abuse and neglect at the facility, an investigation by News 10 NBC (WHEC) revealed yesterday.
The resident’s granddaughter, who asked to remain anonymous, said the family learned about the incident after receiving a phone call from Rochester General Hospital. “Informing her that her mother that was living at Waterview Heights in Rochester was admitted to the hospital for a sexual assault,” she said.
The resident, referred to as Ann to protect her identity, has dementia and lived on a floor with other memory-impaired residents. “My grandmother was left in her room and another resident wandered in there,” the granddaughter explained. She added that a nurse discovered blood in Ann’s undergarments after entering the room.
A research study approved by Cornell University and published by the National Institutes of Health highlights the increased risk of resident-to-resident elder mistreatment in New York’s nursing homes, particularly when staffing levels are low. “So just knowing that information from studies, you would assume that they would have more care on that floor, more supervision,” the granddaughter said.
State inspectors have previously cited Waterview Heights for serious understaffing. During a March 2 inspection, only four nurses were on duty during the day and evening shifts to care for 215 residents. That night, the number dropped to just two certified nursing assistants, leaving one CNA for every 108 residents.
The Grand Healthcare System, which owns Waterview Heights, claims it has since addressed the issues cited in the 113-page Department of Health inspection report, including staffing concerns. In a text message, a Grand Healthcare System vice president said, “They [DOH] completed their investigation. They cleared the facility and staff from any violations of policy or regulatory compliance.”
Despite these assurances, Ann’s granddaughter said the trauma her grandmother experienced has had a devastating emotional toll. “The entire time she’s telling me she wants to die. That she doesn’t want to live anymore,” she said.
According to a study published in the journal Gerontologist, nursing home sexual assault is associated with a grim outcome: nearly 50% of victims die within a year of the incident. The granddaughter urged families to remain vigilant. “Keep your elderly close by… And just advocate and hold people accountable.”
In response to News10NBC’s reporting, the Grand Healthcare System’s vice president accused the outlet of publishing “false or incomplete information,” adding that HIPAA privacy laws prevent them from releasing additional details to counter the family’s claims. However, the facility did confirm that it reported the alleged assault to the Department of Health, which says its investigation remains ongoing.
Family members with concerns about nursing home abuse or neglect can contact the New York State Centralized Complaint Intake at 1-888-201-4563. They may also reach out to the Attorney General’s Office or the State Ombudsman. Additionally, family members of elder sexual abuse survivors may learn more about filing a lawsuit against an institution, and by also filling out the confidential, secure form below for a free case evaluation.
