Assemblyman John Mikulin (R,C,I-Bethpage) today renewed calls for an independent investigation into the nursing home deaths of more than 15,000 New Yorkers as the state Assembly moved on a 10-bill package aimed at improving conditions for nursing home residents and their families. Mikulin was generally supportive of the package but said that without first fully understanding the missteps that led to the deaths and a lack of information for families, true reform was not possible.

“A year ago this week, New York documented its first known case of COVID-19 and one of the only things we knew at that time was the danger it posed to the elderly. Having witnessed through the media the devastation it caused in nursing homes in Washington State, families with loved ones in nursing homes here in New York were justifiably on guard,” said Mikulin. “What transpired over the last year has been devastating. Our hearts break for the families who are grieving. The injustice that has happened to the residents living in long-term care should never happen again. While I appreciate that my colleagues are taking steps to provide comfort, without an independent investigation, justice cannot be served. Without knowing what went wrong, we cannot legislate these substantial reforms that are necessary to prevent this kind of tragedy and protect New York’s elderly in the future.”