FRIA Takes Action at Clearview Nursing Home

After FRIA received numerous complaints about Clearview Nursing Home in Queens pressuring residents to move to other facilities, FRIA staff and volunteers went on site to hand out leaflets educating families and residents about their rights.

Clearview, along with other homes in the New York area, is trying to replace residents who are healthier and bring in lower Medicaid reimbursement rates with others who bring in higher reimbursement rates because they are very sick or  need short-term, sub-acute rehabilitation.

On the afternoon of Sunday April 18th, FRIA staff and volunteers went to Clearview and distributed information about state regulations which determine when residents  have a right to stay at a nursing home, and when a facility can discharge them.

Clearview told FRIA there had been no undue pressure and decisions by residents or families to move have been voluntary.  But some families have told FRIA their relatives moved, even after years at Clearview, because they believed they had no choice.  Residents who have spoken up and refused to move have been allowed to stay.

Visitors to the home on the 18th expressed gratitude for FRIA's involvement. Several  people reported that they had been planning to move relatives because they did not know they could refuse.