INTERLAKEN, NY — The Bixby Home, an adult care facility serving 20 residents, has been ordered to close immediately after New York State health officials found widespread medication management failures that posed an imminent threat to resident safety, according to state officials.
The New York State Department of Health suspended the facility's operating license on February 27, citing what investigators described as "a fundamental breakdown in the facility's operation and integrity related to medication management," as reported by the Finger Lakes Times. State officials documented more than 1,000 violations at the facility located at 8342 North Main Street, according to Patrick Toye, associate commissioner and regional director of the Western Regional Office of the state Department of Health.
Placement arrangements have been secured for all residents at facilities in Penn Yan, Auburn, Fairport and other locations, with no placements more than 90 minutes from the current facility, according to Scott King, Seneca County's director of Public Health. State officials indicated all residents and their belongings would be relocated by the end of the week following the suspension order.
Medication Management Failures
The suspension order identified serious deficiencies in how the facility administered medications to vulnerable residents. State investigators found that at least two patients missed several hundred doses of prescribed medication during January and February of this year, or refused medications without proper documentation, according to the Department of Health review. Additional violations included dosing errors and medications administered without valid physician orders, state officials reported.
"As regulator, the New York State Department of Health takes the health and safety of adult care facility residents very seriously," said Marissa Crary, a Department of Health spokeswoman. "Observed conditions at The Bixby Home necessitated the Department deliver an order of suspension to the operator and require immediate transfer of residents to other settings consistent with their individual level of care needs."
History of Regulatory Violations
The facility operated by Deborah and Richard Bixby has faced regulatory scrutiny dating back to 2019, according to court documents filed with the suspension order. The operators acknowledged previous violations through stipulation orders in 2022 and 2023, but failed to submit an approved plan of correction to address the identified deficiencies, state records show.
State health officials also noted that the facility operators face significant financial issues currently under investigation by the State Attorney General's office, according to information provided to county officials. Interlaken Mayor Rich Richardson told the county health director there is no expectation for the facility to reopen under current ownership due to the nature and number of violations documented by state investigators.
The Bixby Home has operated at the Main Street location since 2007, providing care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as disabled veterans. The operators previously ran similar care facilities and housed vulnerable populations at other residences including their own home in Ovid, according to local reports.
State Response and Resident Relocation
State Health Department staff has been deployed on-site at the facility to manage the rapid relocation of residents, according to county health officials. State officials indicated they would handle the relocation effort without requesting county resources and expected to complete all transfers within days of the suspension order.
"I trust, of course, that the NYSDOH would not have taken an action this drastic if it were not in the best interest of the health and welfare of the residents currently living at the facility," King stated in communications with local officials.
The department emphasized its commitment to monitoring the transfer process closely. "The department will work closely with local partners, receiving facilities, and providers to monitor transfers and ensure residents are placed in settings that can safely meet their daily care needs," Crary said.
While the suspension order is technically temporary and provides 60 days for corrections, local officials do not anticipate the facility will reopen under its current operators given the extensive nature of the violations documented by state investigators.
Resources for Families
Families with concerns about the care provided at adult care facilities in New York should contact the state's Centralized Complaint Intake at 1-866-893-6772. All complaints are kept confidential, and investigators share outcomes with complainants at the conclusion of each investigation.
Additional resources are available through the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center at 1-800-677-1116. Complete information about The Bixby Home's regulatory history is available on the New York State Health Profiles website.
Federal regulations require adult care facilities to maintain accurate medication administration records and ensure all medications are given according to physician orders. Facilities must have systems in place to identify and correct medication errors, and staff must document any refused medications with appropriate follow-up protocols.
💬 Join the Discussion
Comments are moderated. Please keep discussions respectful and relevant to nursing home care quality.