Attorney General, DSS Place Waterbury Nursing Home Into State Receivership

October 2, 2008

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today sought and received a court order placing into state receivership the financially troubled Crescent Manor nursing home in Waterbury.

Starkowski asked Blumenthal to act after the home needed a $125,000 advance from DSS to make payroll. The home at 1243 West Main Street has 95 residents.

Blumenthal and Starkowski said there are no plans to close the home. The state receiver appointed today, Phyllis Belmonte, will work to restore the home's finances and find a new owner, they said.

Blumenthal said, "My office today asked the court to appoint a receiver for the financially troubled Crescent Manor nursing home, hopefully restoring its fiscal health. This action assures the safety and well being of residents, as well as continuing quality of care. Relatives of residents can rest easy: there are no plans to close the home and relocate the residents. We will work to keep this home open and operating."

Starkowski said, "The goal of this receivership action is to stabilize Crescent Manor's financial situation and pave the way for new ownership going forward. We want to assure residents, family members and staff that the court-appointed receiver is a professional administrator who will safeguard high standards of care at Crescent Manor."

The majority owner and president of Crescent Manor, Benjamin Z. Fischman, owns four other nursing homes. All are managed by a related company, Affinity Health Care, Inc. of Cheshire.

DSS last month began examining the entire chain's finances. Preliminary findings are due October 17 with the final report to be done by November 7.

The other Affinity homes are: Alexandria Manor in Bloomfield, Blair Manor in Enfield, Douglas Manor in Windham and Ellis Manor in Hartford.