SOUTH HADLEY — After facing many complaints from staff, patients and their families, state Sen. Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow) and state Rep. Dan Carey (D-Easthampton) have issued a joint letter to Attorney General Andrea Campbell and Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh requesting their agencies conduct a formal investigation into what they are calling “severe concerns” at the Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center, 573 Granby Rd.
The facility, currently operated by BluPoint Healthcare, has been the subject of allegations and evidence of misconduct and these issues have persisted for five months following the change in ownership to BluPoint Healthcare.
South Hadley nursing home employees said they have faced numerous problems, including bounced checks, understaffing, limited resources and unpaid wages.
The situation has led to staff protests outside the facility, where they have highlighted their financial struggles and the inability to meet patients’ basic needs.
Staff members allege they have gone unpaid for four weeks due to bounced checks, causing significant financial hardship and forcing employees to pay out of pocket for materials to care for patients.
The workers also claim that severe staff shortages have forced employees to work over 60 hours per week, leading to extreme fatigue and fear among the staff, jeopardizing both employee well-being and resident safety.
Since Oliveira and Carey sent the letter on, Carey told Reminder Publishing the Department of Public Health and the attornery general’s office have been very involved with the ongoing situation.
“I am in communication with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, which oversees DPH. DPH has had nurses and certified CNA’s onsite all week and is integrating more nurses and volunteers with the staff,” Carey added.
According to Carey, the number one priority at this point is to keep the residents safe and cared for and will continue to work with those looking for help dealing with different problems within the center.
At the same time, investigations are ongoing to make sure the employees receive the pay they deserve and the operator is held accountable.
“This is a terrible situation for the residents, their family members and the entire staff. Everyone deserves better. I will continue to work to hold those at fault accountable and to bring dignity and respect back to those who so deserve it,” Carey said.
Oliveira talked about the need for an investigation and change for the people who work at the center as well as those who are being taken care of.
“The residents and staff at the South Hadley nursing home deserve better,” said Oliveira, “Unpaid wages, deteriorating and unsanitary working and living conditions, and clear financial mismanagement by Blupoint have created a dire situation for the employees and residents at Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center. We’re calling on the attorney general and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to launch an official investigation and hold those responsible accountable.”
Since the letter was sent, a Suffolk Superior Court ruling placed Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center under receivership.
Oliveira discussed the ruling and signed order by Attorney General Andrea Campbell.
He said, “After weeks of public pressure, the Suffolk Superior Court ruling placing Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center, operated by Blupoint Healthcare in South Hadley, under receivership marks a critical step towards addressing the severe issues that have plagued this facility and others operated by this company. I commend the Attorney General’s office for taking decisive action to protect some of our community’s most vulnerable. Moving forward, our primary focus must be on ensuring the safety, well-being, and dignity of both the residents and the hardworking staff who care for them.”
South Hadley has also reported multiple grievances, including a lack of essential resources such as cleaning products. The lack of resources has led to residents being forced to sit in excrement and staff has had to resort to using pillowcases for cleaning due to the absence of proper supplies.
In addition, BluPoint Healthcare owes South Hadley approximately $160,000 in bills to utility companies and other vendors, raising concerns about the facility’s financial stability and ability to provide care and essential services.
Oliveira and Carey’s request for a thorough joint investigation by Campbell and Walsh into BluPoint Healthcare’s operations at the Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center.
They want to ensure that all owed wages to the staff are promptly paid, investigate the unsafe and unsanitary conditions reported at the facility, assess the staffing levels and their impact on resident care and safety, examine BluPoint Healthcare’s financial practices and compliance with contractual and legal obligations to the town and other vendors.
They said they would also like transparent updates to South Hadley and the affected parties regarding the investigation and any remedial actions.
Selectboard member Nicole Casolari brought up the issue during the Selectboard meeting on July 9 after a constituent reached out with complaints. After doing some research, Casolari said the center is “underperforming in terms of its responsibilities and its duties to the families of its patients as well as the patients itself.”
Casolari added that one of the residents who reached out to her said they removed their mother from the center due to concerns for her safety.
“As I did a quick Google search, it’s more recently they’ve been in the news. They do have a business certificate from town and I want to know what our local government, what our responsibilities are, what we already know about this business, it’s concerning to me,” she added.
Selectboard Chair Andrea Miles said that she received an email on July 8 that the Health Department put in formal complaint to the attorney general as well as the state.
“There are other issues with other departments in town but our Health Department has put in the complaint,” Miles added.
In addtion to the situation with Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center, both Highview of Northampton and Vantage in Wilbraham have faced scrutiny and fines from the state for the condition of those facilities. Reminder Publishing will be following up with DPH and the attorney general’s office, as well as on the situations at Highview and Vantage in an upcoming edition of The Reminder.
