New York Health Officials Transferring Mentally Ill Among Multiple ‘Troubled’ Homes

New York state officials have moved a number of the 300 residents of Seaport Manor -- one of the "most notoriously troubled" adult homes for the mentally ill in the New York City area -- to other adult homes that also have "histories of neglect," the New York Times reports. After years of "extensive" violations at Seaport, such as "fraudulent record-keeping" and uninvestigated suicides, the state in March decided to close the facility. State officials have moved more than 115 Seaport residents, many to other adult homes in New York City with past violations. Although New York officials admitted that the state's system of adult homes has become "almost unsalvageable," state Health Commissioner Dr. Antonia Novello said that she "had little choice but to let Seaport residents move to other adult homes with poor conditions." State officials said that they moved Seaport residents to "appropriate" facilities and that the residents had consented to the transfers. However, the Times reports that state officials "did not say how the residents had been able to provide meaningful consent" nor whether the state "involved the close relatives of residents." In addition, the Times reports that the state moved two Seaport residents to an unlicensed adult home and one resident to a homeless shelter.

Temporary Receiver?
According to the Times, the New York Department of Health could have appointed a "temporary receiver" to manage Seaport to avoid "moving Seaport residents to other troubled homes." Officials last week said that the health department still may contract with a temporary receiver to manage Seaport. In May, the not-for-profit advocacy group MFY Legal Services filed a lawsuit against the health department on behalf of 32 Seaport residents, asking the court to appoint a temporary receiver for the facility. Jeanette Zelhof, one of the attorneys who filed the suit, said that the conditions at Seaport "could be improved" under new management. She also criticized the health department's decision to allow the three operators at Seaport to surrender their licenses and "pay only a $20,000 fine despite the extensive violations" at the facility (Levy, New York Times, 6/3).