#NY Health Department announces $1M grant to improve tech in nursing homes

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Wearing surgical gloves, a woman cradles her phone with a photo of her hugging her mom at a nursing home.
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The state Health Department announced Friday that it will grant $1 million in new funding for nursing homes to purchase technology like webcams and tablets to help residents connect with family and state ombudsmen amid the coronavirus crisis.

In a new age of social distancing, the equipment is intended for residents in the facilities to increase access with the state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman program — New York’s independent watchdog entity for nursing home residents.

The move follows a blistering June audit from New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer’s office that criticized the state and city for chronically underfunding the ombudsman program, which was put under the microscope during the pandemic especially as all visitors — including these senior citizen advocates — were barred from the facilities thanks to statewide health restrictions.

“Our analysis shined a light on the inadequate funding and support for long-term care ombudsmen, the eyes and ears for our most vulnerable,” Stringer told The Post Friday.

“As we continue to battle the pandemic that has devastated our parents and grandparents in long-term care facilities, we are glad that the state has begun to take steps to improve the program following our investigation,” the comptroller said.

Stringer added, “There needs to be stronger oversight and, most critically, funding support for the ombudsman program to meet our responsibility to provide safe environments for older adults and New Yorkers with disabilities.”

The funding for the tech will be rerouted the federal Civil Monetary Penalty funds collected by the Department of Health via nursing home inspections.

Nursing homes can submit an application to the Health Department to receive up to $3,000 for the purchase of “communicative technology and accessories” like laptops and headphones needed to connect residents to family members and the ombudsman program, officials said.

“When our loved ones reside in a nursing home, regular communication concerning their care is vital to the advocacy of residents and the peace of mind for their family members,” said Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, adding that the plan “gives residents and their families a voice and will continue to serve communities during the COVID-19 pandemic response and beyond.”

The $1 million in funding is included in a five-point plan to help nursing residents and their families access services through the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman Program.

Under the plan, the state will publicize the resources of the ombudsman program, require nursing homes to provide a listing of free legal advocacy options, facility ombudsman contact information, and additional information on resident rights consistent with adult care facilities, as well as the expansion of ombudsman volunteer recruitment.

Stringer’s investigation found that New York City has just one full-time ombudsman for every 8,650 long-term-care residents when national guidelines dictate one watchdog for every 2,000 people.