Review detailed information about every Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home in Erie County, including the overall rating based on health inspection, staffing, and quality measure ratings, on our Safer Senior Homes website.

Protection for Erie County Residents Living in Nursing & Adult Homes

Ruthie’s Law was named in memory of a nursing home resident who died following a physical altercation with another resident.  Unfortunately, her daughter did not learn of the altercation involving her mother or its seriousness for hours after the event occurred in an Erie County nursing home. 

On July 7, 2017, County Executive Mark Poloncarz went before the county legislature and introduced new and stronger protective measures for older adults living in nursing homes and Legislators unanimously passed the measure into law-Ruthie’s Law. The new law requires all nursing homes in Erie County to inform a designated individual within two hours after a resident suffers an injury that requires hospital treatment. The law also requires Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes in Erie County to report semi-annually to the Commissioner of Senior Services. View the list of nursing homes that have or have not complied with submiting reports. 

The Executive Order also requires the Department of Senior Services prepare a "Know Your Rights" guide for potential nursing home residents, and have it available upon request (call 858-8526).  The guide, called Your Rights as a Nursing Home Resident, is a helpful resource prepared by attorney Anthony Szczygiel. 

Other materials mailed out with the Guide include an up-to-date list of Erie County Nursing Homes with contact information, a NYS Department of Health Fact Sheet explaining the Five-Star Quality Rating System, a Guide to Services for older adults in Erie County and brochures from a few of the agencies providing assistance to older adults and their caregivers.  They are listed below.

       Contacts to have when dealing with nursing home complaints/problems:

          Center for Elder Law & Justice

        Partner, Long Term Care Ombudsman Program (LTCOP)

          438  Main St.

          Buffalo  NY  14202

         (716) 853-3087

         Erie County Senior Services

         NY Connects - Information & Assistance

         Know Your Rights Packet & Safer Senior Homes website

         95 Franklin St.

         Buffalo NY 14202

         (716) 858-8526 

         http://www2.erie.gov/saferseniorhomes

         Erie County Social Services

         Adult Protection Unit

         95 Franklin St. 

         Buffalo NY  14202

         (716) 858-6877

         http://www2.erie.gov/socialservices/index.php?q=adult-protection

         NYS Dept. of Health Complaint Line 

         Albany NY  12206

         (888) 201-4563  

         https://apps.health.ny.gov/nursing_homes/complaint_form/complain.action  

        Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

        People Inc.

        Lisa Newman, Coordinator

        (716) 817-9222

       http://www.people-inc.org/senior_services_home/ombudsman_program/index.html