Syracuse, N.Y. — The Van Duyn Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Onondaga Hill has recently earned an unwelcome distinction as a candidate to be among the worst-performing nursing homes in the nation.
The troubled facility gets the lowest one-star rating from the federal government, meaning it operates far below average. Complaints from residents have piled up for years, and recent inspections showed serious problems.
Although Van Duyn is outside the city, Syracuse residents make up part of the facility’s clientele. We asked the mayoral candidates:
Van Duyn nursing home, which lies just outside the city limits and serves many city residents with long-term care and rehabilitation, has come under fire. Residents and investigators complained about poor hygiene, lax infection controls, mix-ups with medication and bad food. Does a mayor have a role in fixing such a problem outside the city’s borders? If so, what can he or she do?
There are three candidates seeking the mayor’s office this year: Democrat Khalid Bey, Republican Janet Burman and independent Ben Walsh, who is seeking a second term.
Each candidate’s response is listed below.
Next week, we’ll publish our last question before the Nov. 2 election. If you have a topic you’d like to see us ask about, please email reporter Megan Craig at mcraig@syracuse.com with the subject line “weekly question.”
Khalid Bey (D)
The Van Duyn nursing home is in crisis, and the mayor’s failure to do anything more than send a letter to protect city residents who live there is inexcusable. Even though the city doesn’t control the home, we must do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable city residents who are in harm’s way. Many Syracuse residents or their family members call this facility home, and the next mayor must work to create a safer and healthier environment at the Van Duyn nursing home. I’ll work with the governor, whom I have a great relationship with, to hold the operators accountable. It’s clear that these for-profit operators are placing their profits over people’s lives and are incapable of giving the residents the care they need. There is little doubt their license should be suspended. This crisis didn’t happen overnight – there must be a thorough investigation into the systemic and administrative failings that led to the horrific conditions and lives lost.
This is one strong example of how our city is often impacted by situations outside our borders and not entirely in our control, but I believe we deserve a mayor who won’t sit on the sidelines and wait for others to take action. As mayor, I will be an active and vocal leader, and work with our county, state and federal partners to find solutions. I will relentlessly demand more to ensure Syracuse and our region are getting the support we need from the state and federal governments.
Ben Walsh (I)
I visited Van Duyn on Thursday, Oct. 14, and took my concerns directly to their leadership. I scheduled the tour after writing to the New York State Department of Health on Sept. 17 requesting that the state, which oversees nursing homes, do everything in its authority to correct the unacceptable conditions at Van Duyn. The reports received by my office and carried in local media are unacceptable.
Even though Van Duyn is outside the city, it serves many Syracuse residents or their loved ones. It’s absolutely the mayor’s role to stand up for constituents and give them a voice regardless of municipal boundaries.
On my tour last week, I met multiple staff members who clearly care deeply for their patients. I thanked them for their work. It is the responsibility of management and ownership, however, to ensure that staff has all the resources it needs to provide quality care. I made it clear to those running the facility that, regardless of the challenges faced, they must ensure patients are treated with respect and receive quality care.
The Department of Health confirmed in response to my letter that it would conduct an unannounced inspection of Van Duyn Oct. 6. We are awaiting the results of that review to ensure it shows progress in resolving problems reported at Van Duyn and that patients are safe. I will continue to use my platform as mayor to shine light on this facility and others like it, and hold those in charge accountable.
Janet Burman (R)
Dangerous conditions at Van Duyn threaten Syracuse citizens hospitalized there. The mayor should advocate for the state health department to resolve this situation.
Advocacy is an often overlooked aspect of leadership. Syracuse’s mayor must be a strong advocate for our citizens when it comes to important issues over which city government has no direct control. The mayor must speak out publicly on these issues, as well as privately entreat those who can influence the outcome, including county, state and federal officials, business leaders, labor unions, universities, non-profit agencies and community leaders.
Much time is spent beseeching county, state and federal officials for a higher proportion of tax-payers’ funding, but advocating for legislative changes can have a far-reaching and significant impact on our city.
The legislative changes that our mayor must advocate for immediately are further modifications to the state’s bail and justice reforms. District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick has spoken out on the negative consequences of this legislation, but our mayor has not. Consequences of the current laws include:
- Deterrents for witness statements, as the accused now has access to witness addresses;
- Inability to do mental health evaluations on those who can no longer be detained;
- Ineffective consequences for failures to appear in court;
- Release of juveniles with a history of gun violence.
These factors play into the increase of violent crime in our city, and I will advocate for the necessary legislative changes that will make our citizens safer, while preserving the rights of those accused.
Got a tip, comment or story idea? Call or text Megan Craig at 315-925-7137, email her at mcraig@syracuse.com or send a direct message on Twitter @megcraig1.
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