NJs Worst Long-term Care Facility Once More in the Crosshairs

Over concerns for residents’ health and safety, NJ state announced yesterday, 5/24, the filing of an action in Superior Court seeking a court order to appoint a “receiver” at Woodland Behavioral and Nursing Center in Andover, Sussex County.

If appointed, the receiver will assume control over the facility’s operations and take the necessary next steps to protect the health and safety of the residents.

Woodland Behavioral and Nursing Center has been the subject of extreme scrutiny as of late. A recent string of scathing reports cites repeated mistreatment and abuse of the residents of this nursing home.

Reports include how one resident was ignored by nurses and aids for nearly an hour despite complaints of pain after a catheter became stuck in a motorized wheelchair. Additionally, no attempts were made to resuscitate a 55-year-old resident, nor were calls made to 911, after the resident was discovered in cardiac arrest and not breathing on New Year’s Day 2022.

In one two-week period from December 2021 to January 2022, not a single day went by when there were enough certified nurse aids on duty to care for more than 450 residents. The nursing home, at times, operated with only half the required staff as mandated by state law.

These scathing reports began after the discovery of a makeshift morgue at Woodland Behavioral and Nursing Center two years ago. Health officials laid down a litany of charges against one of the largest nursing homes in NJ after over a dozen bodies were found stored in the makeshift morgue.

Surveyors for the state Department of Health said Woodland Behavioral Health and Nursing Center at Andover “failed to appropriately prevent abuse and neglect of its hundreds of residents.”

Located in Sussex County, Woodland Behavioral Health and Nursing Center is consistently labeled as one of the worst long-term care facilities in New Jersey.

The facility was ordered by the health department to immediately curtail new admissions and threatened with possible closure.

In light of the ongoing issues, the State of NJ has taken legal action to seek the appointment of a receiver to control the facility’s operations and finances. If the Court grants the receivership, the receiver will take action to retain staff and maintain services for residents.

“Our state agencies have maintained careful oversight and partnered with a reputable health system to provide guidance toward addressing the issues plaguing this facility. Yet it has become crystal clear that the people running this nursing home refuse to take responsibility for the people in their care,” said Governor Murphy. “New Jersey will not tolerate long-term care facility operators who cannot provide the care our most vulnerable residents need and deserve. Our state agencies will employ the greatest authority we have to prevent these operators from continuing to place the residents of this nursing home in jeopardy, and will work towards ensuring a continuation of care on behalf of the more than 360 individuals in this home.”

“The Department of Human Services expects nursing facilities serving Medicaid residents to provide quality care that meets all state and federal standards. After significant intervention by CMS and the Department of Health, this provider has not been able to achieve or maintain systemic quality improvements, and this step to seek receivership is necessary,” said Human Services Commissioner Adelman. “Our Department and our Medicaid Care Managers will continue to work with Woodland residents and their families to provide support throughout this transition so that every individual served by this provider is receiving the quality care they deserve.”

Since its appointment as monitor, Atlantic Health Systems has conducted an onsite assessment of business practices, operations, and infrastructure. The New Jersey Departments of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman, and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations have also been on-site to monitor the quality of care, conduct psychiatric assessments, and offer counseling and support to residents regarding voluntary transfer to new facilities.

“Conditions at Woodland remain poor for the residents who live there and for the dedicated direct care staff who work there,” said New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman Laurie Brewer. “The people living at Woodland deserve capable, committed leadership from facility operators who value their autonomy, dignity and quality of life, yet current leadership has clearly failed to even marginally turn things around. I applaud the state for taking this necessary step.”

Going forward, the State will continue to monitor the situation and will hold meetings with staff, residents, families, and resident rights advocates in the coming days to provide support and clear communication on the status of the situation.

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