San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Greenport, which evacuated residents, had previous citation for fire alarm system, records show
Residents at San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Greenport were evacuated on Monday. Credit: Randee Daddona
A Greenport nursing home, evacuated Monday after authorities determined the building's fire suppression and alarm systems were not working, was cited last year by the New York State Department of Health for failing to ensure the fire alarm system was inspected, tested and properly maintained, records show.
On Monday evening, about 110 residents were temporarily moved from San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation and relocated to other elder care facilities across Long Island, officials said.
The move came after heavy smoke was reported early Monday at the County Road 48 facility and Suffolk fire marshals discovered the fire alarm system was not functioning properly, according to Steven Grattan, chief of the Southold Town Police Department. The smoke, Grattan said, was traced to a malfunctioning air handler in the nursing home's HVAC system that serves the west wing.
More than a year ago, on Sept. 5, 2024, the Health Department hit San Simeon with 16 health and safety code violations, records show.
WHAT NEWSDAY FOUND
- On Monday, about 110 residents were evacuated from San Simeon by the Sound Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Greenport and relocated to other facilities across Long Island.
- The evacuations came after heavy smoke was reported at San Simeon and Suffolk fire marshals discovered the fire alarm and fire suppression systems were not functioning properly.
- Last year, state health officials cited San Simeon for failing to ensure the fire alarm system was inspected, tested and properly maintained. The facility has had 46 citations since 2021.
Inspectors said San Simeon's fire alarm inspection and testing report did not include the smoke detectors' sensitivity test, and the complete fire alarm system report was not provided for review. The facility later reported that a fire alarm inspection had been completed, which included the smoke detectors' sensitivity test, records show.
The nursing home paid a $2,000 fine to settle the most serious of the 16 citations: that it failed to protect residents from the possibility of burns caused by excessive hot water temperatures in sinks and showers.
Separately, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services gives San Simeon one out of five stars, with seven recent fire safety and emergency preparation citations — higher than both the state and federal averages.
Richard Mollot, executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition, an advocacy group for elder care residents, said nearly a decade ago, the federal government beefed up fire safety requirements following several serious nursing home incidents.
"Protecting residents from a fire is one of the most essential life safety code requirements for nursing homes," Mollot said.
"This is an especially alarming situation, given that San Simeon ... was cited for very serious fire safety failures during its survey last fall," he said. "At that time, the facility stated that it had corrected these failures. If that was true, how could the current crisis have occurred?"
Messages left with San Simeon, a 120-bed facility, were not returned.
State Department of Health spokeswoman Marissa Crary declined to comment on the timeline for the residents' return or if the previous fire safety violations were connected to the evacuation.
"Following reports of smoke at the facility and an investigation by local fire authorities, the department directed the temporary evacuation of all residents to alternate care facilities to ensure their safety and the continuity of care," Crary said. "The department can confirm that the families of all residents have been notified as required. The department will continue to closely monitor the situation and prioritize the health and safety of all residents."
On Monday evening, Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services organized county transit buses and ambulances to evacuate San Simeon residents to other facilities in the midst of a nor'easter, according to Fire Commissioner Rudy Sunderman.
There were no injuries reported, although seven residents requiring oxygen were transported to local hospitals after the smoke condition earlier in the day — four to Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport and three to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead.
The state Department of Health identifies San Simeon as a two-star facility — out of a possible five stars — with low marks for preventive care and resident safety.
Since Aug. 1, 2021, Health Department inspectors have received 63 complaints from residents or their families about care at San Simeon, while state officials have issued 46 citations, including four directly related to the "actual harm or immediate jeopardy" of residents, records show.
The average number of violations during that period for nursing homes statewide was 31 citations and one related to actual harm or immediate jeopardy, records show.
In December 2023, the Department of Health fined San Simeon $4,000 for failing to report and investigate allegations that a certified nursing assistant had asked a resident to to remove their clothes and play a game, an inspection report shows. Another resident reported that the same CNA, who was later suspended, touched their thigh while in their bed and asked them to dinner, records show.
One year earlier, the department fined San Simeon $10,000 after a resident, who was supposed to be supervised at all times because of a history of falls, was left unattended and fell out a wheelchair, suffering a broken neck.
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
