Bob Curtis fears that if the retirement community he has called home for three years closes in bankruptcy for the third time in 10 years, he and his wife, Sandy, will lose their home, their savings, and possibly be separated. I am concerned that this will happen.
“If the unthinkable were to happen, we would replace what we have here,” he said Thursday of Harborside, where Sandy, 84, is cared for in a dementia ward and Bob, 87, lives independently. I can’t do that,” he said.
“We’re going to have to deal with relocation,” he said. “Not only do I have to find a house for Sandy, but I also have to find a house for myself (if Harborside closes), which I may not be able to afford and if they No one knows where it’s going.”
The couple were among about 200 Harborside residents, their families and supporters who rallied inside the facility and called on Gov. Kathy Hochul to “save our homes.” The incident occurred after a $104 million sale agreement to continue operating the facility under new ownership was broken in August.
The rally, held at the Promenade Ballroom, came two days after Hochul, whose average age is 90, vowed that no residents would be evicted as long as he was governor.
Hochul, responding to questions from Newsday in New Hyde Park on Tuesday, said Harborside’s potential buyer, Life Care Service Communities LLC, is subject to state regulations governing the sale of “continuing care retirement communities.” He said he was reluctant to do so.
He also suggested that other companies are interested in buying the bankrupt Harborside, although there were only two bidders other than LCS at a bankruptcy court auction last year.
Iowa-based LCS executives said they were no longer interested in the property after spending more than $1 million this year to pay operating costs.
“We hope that our stakeholders will find alternative solutions to protect our residents,” said Tracy McBee, a spokeswoman for the company.
He also said the three applications filed by LCS with the state Department of Health and the Department of Financial Services “in no way violated state law, and LCS has never asked regulators for an exception to the law or statute.” ” he said.
Hochul spokesman Gordon Tepper said Thursday that the Department of Health rejected LCS’ application earlier this month. But he said the agency will consider future applications as long as they comply with state law to ensure the safety and security of seniors.
“If LCS is truly interested in completing this transaction, it is obligated to meet state standard requirements,” Tepper told Newsday. “LCS must submit an application to the Ministry of Health with all the necessary documentation to proceed with this process. We have no intention of breaking the law to facilitate the transaction.”
A Ministry of Health spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
At the meeting, Curtis and other Harborside residents accused the department of misleading Hochul about the 10-month approval process that ended with LCS withdrawing its acquisition offer.
“Why did the DOH take 10 months to get to that point and ruin their chance to fix the ship?” Curtis said if Harborside were to close, he would have paid $800,000 in admission fees. He added that he would lose half of his income.
The health department’s mission is “to do no harm, but this feels like elder abuse,” he said.
James T. Madore writes about Long Island business news, including the economy, development, and government-business relations. He previously served as Albany bureau chief.
