A new poll shows that New Yorkers disapprove of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s “handling of nursing homes amid the coronavirus pandemic,” according to a May 27 report by the New York Post. The poll reportedly shows that the governor’s numbers fell from 71% approval a month ago to 63%, “with the majority disapproving of how he dealt with the elder care facilities.” The poll was conducted by Siena College, whose pollster, Steven Greenberg, said in a statement: “When it comes to addressing the needs of nursing homes, only 44 percent give him positive marks, compared to a plurality, 48 percent, who rate him negatively,”
According to the Post, Governor Cuomo has “backtracked” on a “controversial mandate” that nursing homes had to readmit from hospitals residents who tested positive for the virus, though he “twice blamed federal guidance” for the policy. The state has since ordered that hospitals “cannot send COVID-positive people back into homes,” and that nursing homes test staff members for coronavirus twice each week. Meanwhile, state legislators have issued calls for independent probes of the state’s role in New York’s “hellish nursing home death tolls.”
That death toll may be as high as 12,000, according to a Post columnist. Still, the Siena College poll found that 54% of Democrats in the state positively view the governor’s approach to nursing home policy during the crisis. Of Republicans, 55% have a negative view; of independents, 61%. The poll found that 76% of its respondents approve of the governor’s handling of the crisis, a figure notably lower than the governor’s 84% approval rating in April.
According to Greenberg, “Cuomo’s stratospheric ratings from New Yorkers in April have fallen from their record highs but remain very strong as two-thirds of voters still view him favorably.” New York Assemblyman Ronald Kim, of Queens, told the Post he was “shocked” so many New York citizens approved of the governor’s approach to nursing homes. “I believe once they fully understand how this administration decided early on to protect the business interests behind nursing homes over the lives of nursing home residents, those approval numbers will continue to plummet,” he said.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Thomas L. Gallivan, PLLC work diligently to protect the rights of nursing home residents. Please contact us to discuss in the event you have a potential case involving neglect or abuse.