“Just a genuine guy, like to tell you old war stories. That’s what I miss about him.”

Vincent Pierce described one of his friends who passed away from COVID-19 at the city-run Coler Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center on Roosevelt Island as a genuine guy who, “liked to tell you old war stories.” That’s what he says he misses most about his friend.

What You Need To Know

  • NYS attorney general report found state Health Department underreported COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes by 50%

  • Report also found a lack of compliance with infection-control protocols at some nursing homes

  • The AG investigation also found insufficient personal protective equipment for nursing home staff

Pierce is a quadriplegic. He’s lived at Coler for six years. He says early on in the pandemic Coler did not isolate COVID-19 patients from everyone else.

“It was very difficult waking up in the morning not knowing if it’s going to be, if you’re going to catch it. It was very distressful,” said Pierce.

A spokesperson for NYC Health + Hospitals says the city followed all infectious control protocols at Coler, and completely isolated all COVID-19 patients.

A report released Thursday by New York State Attorney General Letitia James does not mention Coler. It does say some nursing homes across the state failed to comply with infection control policies, including not isolating residents who had tested positive for the virus.

In addition to accusing the Cuomo administration of undercounting coronavirus-related deaths at nursing homes by as much as 50%, the attorney general’s report also found the lack of staffing that existed in nursing homes before the pandemic led to an increased number of COVID-19 deaths. One nursing assistant we spoke to said adequate staffing is critical.

“In my unit we deal with patients that have oxygen. If you’re not able to check to see if that patient’s oxygen is running because you’re busy taking care of another resident on the other side end, what could possibly happen?” said Linda Silva.

Advocates for the elderly hope this report finally achieves the reforms they’ve wanted for years.

“The AG’s report today I think reflects more accurately what has gone on in nursing homes pre-pandemic that unfortunately led to the results that we see today,” said attorney John Dalli.

Vincent Pierce has a message to all nursing home owners and operators.

“They need to realize nursing home lives matter. We’re not to be looked over like this is our last stop.”