The Town of Bethlehem took unprecedented action Thursday to protect vulnerable residents and issued an emergency order to vacate the Albany Center for Independent Living, a privately owned assisted living facility in Delmar, closing the building and requiring that residents be relocated.
Town Supervisor David VanLuven said in a statement, “Moving people out of their rooms – their homes – is not a decision that the Town takes lightly, but the safety of the residents and staff is our top priority, and the for-profit owners of the building had allowed the facility to degrade to a state that is unsafe for occupation.”
VanLuven said that while the town is not responsible for operating assisted living facilities, it is responsible for the safety of the building itself. The Town’s Building Division reportedly uncovered serious violations of the Building Code that were an imminent threat to the safety of residents, staff, and visitors. These included structural issues, electrical issues, elevator issues, and mold infestation. They alerted the NYS Department of Health, which oversees all assisted living facilities in the state, and issued the Emergency Order to Vacate.
The Department of Health is managing the relocation of the 45 current residents to new housing. The department sent the following statement regarding this incident:
“The New York State Department of Health takes the health and safety of adult care facility and nursing home residents very seriously. All 45 residents of the Albany Center for Independent Living are safe and will continue to receive appropriate care and services throughout the relocation process. The Department is coordinating with the facility, residents, families, and local partners to support a safe and orderly relocation consistent with the Town’s order. Our oversight activities remain ongoing, and appropriate regulatory action will be taken based on those findings.”
Town of Bethlehem departments, notably the Police and Senior Services staff, are assisting with the relocation and are supporting residents throughout the transition. The Bethlehem community is assisting as well, notably the Delmar Progress Club which donated suitcases for every resident to use during the move.
The Town of Bethlehem Building Division, Senior Services Department, and Police Department and the NYS Department of Health are working together to take legal action against the New Jersey-based owners of the Albany Center for Independent Living and in defense of its now former residents.
We have reached out to the center for any comment, but have not yet heard back.