ROCHESTER, N.Y. — News10NBC continues its investigation into the closing of Waterview Heights Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
The Department of Health has approved a plan to move more than 160 Waterview residents to new homes.
Waterview is being forced to close because inspectors say conditions are so bad they put residents at risk. As Rochester faces a major shortage of nursing home beds, Waterview had to come up with a plan to move everyone to another nursing home.
When the non-profit Family Service of Rochester went belly up last summer, it forced residents at four assisted living facilities to move out. Few expressed the frustration felt by displaced seniors as clearly as 80-year-old Georgia Jackson.
“This country is supposed to be land of the free and home of the brave, but in other countries they take care of their elders,” Jackson said.
Miss Georgia was among the fortunate to finally find a Rochester assisted living facility to call home. That was not the case for everyone.
RELATED: Consumer Investigation: Continuing to Follow the Money at Family Service of Rochester (Aug. 22, 2025)
Many sobbed with the knowledge they were being sent hours away. Will that be the plight of the now displaced residents of Waterview Heights?
According to Waterview’s closure plan approved by the Department of Health, the goal is to keep residents close to family and friends.
“The first phase is to look for homes in a 10-mile radius, which would of course keep everybody in our community. If that’s not possible, a 25-mile radius, still very close to our community,” said Ann Marie Cook, CEO of Lifespan.
Cook said Waterview must provide a copy to the organization so it can support residents during the transition. Family members are frantic.
One family member wrote saying Waterview staff told them, “You can choose from these other facilities. If you refuse these, your family member will be sent to Pennsylvania.”
“Pennsylvania is not in the plan. Once again, we’re advocating that every resident stay in our community,” Cook said.
The plan promises that every resident will be assessed, assuring the facility meets their needs and residents’ preferences will be given priority. The goal is to find new nursing homes for everyone by Sept. 24.
“I’m concerned, but if every home takes some residents, they’ll get re-housed in the Rochester community,” Cook said.
But it is very unlikely that every home will take some of the Waterview residents. Nursing home leaders say the Medicaid reimbursement rate doesn’t cover the cost to care for the residents they already have, so nursing home space is limited.
A senior vice president of the Jewish Home weighed in on the matter.
“If we had beds available and they qualified, absolutely we would look at their application, but right now we have waiting lists already due to that shortage,” the senior vice president said.
News10NBC’s Deanna Dewberry talked to another nursing home administrator who says he can take a few residents. But will the Department of Health be able to find beds within a 25-mile radius for more than 160 people?
That question remains unanswered. Dewberry will continue investigating and following the matter closely.
Nursing home ratings
Residents have a right to know the ratings of nursing homes they’re considering. Elder Justice has provided lists of nursing homes and their ratings. See them below:
Ratings for nursing homes in Monroe County
CMS-Ratings-of-Nursing-Homes-in-Monroe-CountyDownloadRatings for nursing homes in Greater Rochester-Finger Lakes Counties
CMS-STAR-Ratings-Aug-1-2026-Greater-Rochester.docx_DownloadNews10NBC’s previous coverage
Dewberry has extensively investigated Waterview Heights. Here are just a few:
News10NBC Investigates: Going inside nursing homes to see whether they’re following transparency laws Investigates: Exclusive video inside Waterview Heights sheds light on resident’s fall from window Consumer Investigation: 5 of the worst-rated nursing homes in Monroe County overdue for state inspections Sources say patient who fell from window and died at Waterview was living in psychiatric wing Consumer Investigation: Waterview Heights closure forces more than 160 residents to find new care placements Consumer Investigation: Inspection raises questions about deaths of 4 residents News10NBC Investigation: Allegations of neglect at Waterview Heights Nursing HomeNews10NBC Investigates: Waterview’s plan to find beds for more than 160 residents WHEC.com.
Hence then, the article about news10nbc investigates waterview s plan to find beds for more than 160 residents was published today ( ) and is available on News10NBC ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( News10NBC Investigates: Waterview’s plan to find beds for more than 160 residents )
Also on site :
- Hayden Panettiere Set ‘Boundaries’ With Brian Hickerson—But Still Hired Private Security to Be Safe (Report)
- 1971 Hit by The Doors, Originally Disliked by Producer, Ranked Among ‘Greatest American Rock Albums’ of All Time
- JCPenney’s ‘Charming’ Floral Toile Quilt Set Is 60% Off and an Easy Way to ‘Spruce Up’ Your Bedroom Ahead of Fall