WILLIAMSVILLE, NY — Comprehensive Rehab and Nursing Center at Williamsville has received formal state citations following a health department inspection that documented roof leaks, standing water in resident areas, and damaged ceiling tiles throughout the facility.
The New York State Department of Health issued a Statement of Deficiencies after completing an on-site investigation on February 5, 2026, according to state inspection records. The citations came days before local news outlets reported on concerns raised by families regarding building conditions at the 165 Reist Street facility.
State health inspectors determined that the nursing home failed to provide a safe, functional, sanitary and comfortable environment for residents, staff and visitors, as reported by WKBW. During the inspection, investigators observed receptacles and buckets positioned to collect standing water, drain hoses extending from ceilings into containers placed in resident rooms, and tarps suspended from hallway ceilings to catch water. Inspectors also documented missing ceiling tiles and water-stained tiles that were sagging from moisture damage.
In one resident's bathroom, health inspectors observed two drain hoses directing water into a 44-gallon container that held standing water, according to the state report. Residents informed investigators that the leak problems had persisted for weeks. "It has been raining in the hall ever since I got here," one resident told state inspectors during the investigation.
The facility also received citations for Life Safety Code violations and must now submit a corrective action plan to the Department of Health for review and approval, as reported by WKBW.
New York State Assemblymember Karen McMahon said she convened a meeting this week with State Senator Jeremy Zellner, Williamsville Mayor Christine Hunt and Department of Health officials to address the inspection findings. "The noted deficiencies include leaks in the roof that have negatively impacted the health and safety of residents, and are deeply troubling," McMahon stated. She acknowledged families for raising concerns and requested ongoing updates as the facility implements corrective measures.
According to reporting by The Buffalo News, a contractor began removing roofing stones and waterproof layers in December, but weather conditions halted the work. The facility implemented interim measures that included placing 5-gallon buckets beneath areas where leaks were occurring.
Legal and Financial Troubles
The state citations arrive as Comprehensive Rehab and Nursing Center faces a separate legal challenge. ShiftMed, a healthcare staffing agency, filed a $1.3 million lawsuit against the facility in Erie County Supreme Court, as reported by WKBW.
According to court documents, ShiftMed alleges the nursing home failed to pay $1,333,832.80 for staffing services the agency provided between October 2023 and July 2024. The complaint further alleges that the facility billed government programs and third-party insurance companies for care delivered, in part, by ShiftMed employees while leaving the staffing bills unpaid.
Attorneys representing ShiftMed stated: "As alleged, ShiftMed is dedicated to seeking fair treatment for the nurses that provide care to patients at Comprehensive Care. We are optimistic that this will get resolved, and this provider will honor its contractual obligations to pay for the nursing services that were provided." The lawsuit remains pending in Erie County Supreme Court.
CMS Inspection History
Comprehensive Rehabilitation & Nursing Center at Williamsville operates as a one-star-rated facility under the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rating system, according to The Buffalo News. The facility maintains 128 certified beds and had 119 residents at the time of the February inspection.
The nursing home has accumulated $61,000 in state fines since 2015, representing the second-highest fine total among nursing homes across the eight-county Western New York region, as reported by The Buffalo News. This enforcement history indicates a pattern of regulatory compliance issues predating the current roof leak citations.
Ownership & Operations
The facility's ownership group includes David Gast, Joshua Farkovich, Ephram Lahasky, Sam Halper, Debbie Korngutt, Terry Lichtstein, and Jeffrey Arem, according to state records cited by The Buffalo News.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to maintain physical environments that protect resident health and safety. The Life Safety Code violations cited by state inspectors indicate failures to meet these baseline requirements, which are designed to prevent harm from environmental hazards including water damage and structural deficiencies.
Resources for Families
Families with concerns about conditions at Comprehensive Rehab and Nursing Center at Williamsville or other long-term care facilities can contact the National Long-Term Care Ombudsman Resource Center at 1-800-677-1116. The ombudsman program provides free advocacy services for nursing home residents and their families.
Concerns about health and safety violations can also be reported directly to the New York State Department of Health. Documentation including photographs, dates, and detailed descriptions of observed conditions strengthens formal complaints and helps state inspectors during investigations.
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