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Residents and family advocates press county over care center conditions and hospital access
Summary
Public commenters and family-council members told the committee they have seen declines in the Adult Care Center and local hospital services; county staff described admissions, staffing hires and quality measures while commenters urged legislative action.
Several members of the public used the meeting’s public-comment period to criticize local long-term care and hospital services in Sullivan County, reporting problems at the county-run Adult Care Center (ACC) and at Garnet Health.
A family-council member described recent Medicare rating declines and detailed measures where the facility lags state averages, saying "the facility is now almost full" and listing concerns: higher hospitalization and fall rates, low pneumonia-vaccine coverage, and frequent use of antipsychotic or antianxiety medications. The commenter said the situation reflected mismanagement since a 2018 change in ownership and asked legislators to take action.
Another resident described a personal emergency-room and admissions experience at Garnet Health and said prolonged waits and perceived staffing problems harmed a family member. The resident urged the county to address perceived service losses and to hold hospital leadership accountable to community needs.
ACC administration provided a regular operations report earlier in the meeting: the facility’s census was 30, December showed 24 admissions and 10 discharges, health inspection ratings were 1 star while quality measures were 2 stars, and recruiting for nursing staff continues. Administrators reported fall-reduction efforts, new ambulation activities tied to cognition and a newly hired interim activities director through June 1.
Legislators and staff said they would continue oversight and invited additional reporting on fall rates and admissions policy. No formal policy change or personnel action was taken at this meeting; several speakers urged the legislature to use its authority if conditions do not improve.
