The Hurlbut Blog

January 5, 2024

Urgent Plea for Medicaid Reimbursement Reform in Nursing Homes

We have a critical issue affecting the care of seniors and individuals with disabilities in our community. In collaboration with like-minded statewide organizations, Rochester's nursing home leaders, including myself, are urgently calling for reforms to New York's nursing home Medicaid reimbursement policies.

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January 3, 2023

U.S. News & World Report Names The Hurlbut Nursing & Rehabilitation and Seneca Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Among Best in New York State

The Hurlbut and Seneca Nursing & Rehabilitation Center have been recognized as Best Nursing Homes for LONG-TERM CARE for 2022-2023 by U.S.News & World Report.

 The annual Best Nursing Homes ratings, now in their 13th year, assist prospective residents and their families in making informed decisions in consultation with their medical professionals about where to receive short-term or long-term nursing home care. Only 16% of U.S skilled-nursing facilities earned the “Best Nursing Home” designation this year.

 “This is a well-deserved honor and recognition for all of our hard-working staff at these facilities, and for us as a company that strives every day to put care, compassion, and commitment at the forefront of what we do!”

   -Robert W. Hurlbut, President of Hurlbut Care Communities

For 2022-2023, U. S. News rated more than 15,000 nursing homes on care, safety, infection rates, staffing and health inspections. For the first time, the Best Nursing Homes ratings feature a new measure on weekend staffing and another new measure on infection rates that led to hospitalizations.

 “Choosing the right nursing home based on care needs and comfort is a critical decision for prospective residents and their families, ”said Zach Adams, Health Data Engineer at U.S. News. “The Best Nursing Homes ratings highlight nursing homes that excel in short-term rehabilitation and long-term care needs.”

 The Best Nursing Homes methodology factors data such as resident care, safety, and outcomes. To calculate the Best Nursing Homes ratings, U.S. News evaluated each nursing home’s performance using a variety of data obtained from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services(CMS). Both short- and long-term ratings include data on consistency of registered nurse staffing, use of antipsychotic drugs, and success in preventing ER and hospital visits. The long-term care rating also includes measures of whether a home changed ownership and how well they were staffed on weekends. The short-term rehabilitation rating also includes measures of a home’s success in preventing falls, preventing serious infections, and making sure residents are able to return homes.

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December 15, 2022

Hurlbut Care Communities Welcomes New Administrators to Livingston County Homes

We are thrilled to announce that John Gagnon and Michele Cone have joined the Hurlbut Care Communities' team as the new Nursing Home Administrators for our two facilities in Livingston County.

Michele, who started at Conesus Lake Nursing Home last week, is an experienced RN and Administrator who lives in the Conesus Lake area. She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role, and we are excited to see what she will accomplish at Conesus Lake Nursing Home.

John, who is returning as the Administrator at Avon Nursing Home, is also an experienced Administrator with over 35 years of experience in skilled nursing. He is well-known in the Avon community and we are confident that he will do an outstanding job leading the team at Avon Nursing Home.

Both John and Michele are dedicated to providing the highest level of care to their residents and we are confident that they will make a positive impact on the Hurlbut Care Communities team. We are excited to have them on board and look forward to seeing the great things they will accomplish in their new roles.

-Robert G. Hurlbut, VP of Hurlbut Care Communities

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July 1, 2022

News From Hurlbut Care Communities

Effective July 1st, Jeremy Strauss, president and CEO of The Grand Healthcare System, will be operating both The Shore Winds and Hornell Gardens locations. With this change, all employees will retain their positions at their respective facilities. I will continue to own and operate the remaining 11 skilled nursing facilities in the greater Rochester area under Hurlbut Care Communities®. Additionally, my son, Robert G. Hurlbut, is being named Vice President of Hurlbut Care Communities®, which now makes us a fourth-generation, family-owned business. I look forward to continue evolving, improving, and serving the needs of the elderly in our area.

-Robert W. Hurlbut, President, Hurlbut Care Communities®

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August 5, 2021

Can nursing homes withstand another surge?

As COVID-19 dangers reemerge with the spread of the highlytransmissible Delta variant and breakthrough infections begin to hit thevaccinated, how ready are area nursing homes to weather what could be a newsurge?

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March 26, 2021

New York State Missing the Mark with Nursing Home Reforms

The public needs to know what ‘reforms’ some of our State Legislators, Senators and Governor Cuomo are trying to push through in the final FY 2021-22 State Budget. This legislation being advanced in the Senate and Assembly adversely affect nursing homes, both residents and staff. The very same industry that has been at the forefront of this battle, our healthcare heroes working day in and day out throughout this COVID-19 pandemic. During a critical time when we need support, we are instead facing Medicaid cuts, staffing mandates, and reforms that don’t truly help us to care for our residents, and certainly don’t help us to strategically grow our workforce.

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January 4, 2021

Hurlbut offers transitional care for covid-positive nursing home/ assisted living residents discharged from UR Medicine hospitals

Conesus, Shore Winds facilities to provide up to 100 beds for patients ready for discharge, expanding hospitals’ capacity for critically ill patients.

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November 20, 2020

The Shore Winds and Seneca Nursing & Rehabilitation Residents to be Featured in Statewide 2021 ‘Art from the Heart’ Wall Calendar

Hurlbut Care Communities is celebrating the inclusion of artwork from two residents in the New York State Health Facilities Association/New York State Center for Assisted Living’s 2021 “Art from the Heart” wall calendar.

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November 20, 2020

Avon Nursing and Rehabilitation Director Receives Award for Increasing Opportunity for Those with Disabilities

Avon Nursing and Rehabilitation is celebrating its Director of Food and Nutritional Services, Wanda Cobb, for earning an award from the Rochester Area Employment Network in recognition of her ongoing efforts to hire and mentor individuals with disabilities in her Dietary Services department.

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November 11, 2020

In Remembrance of Barbara Hurlbut 1934-2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Barbara Hurlbut. As the matriarch of the Hurlbut family for many years, she was a loving, devoted wife to Robert H. Hurlbut (deceased) and a wonderful mother and mentor to her children and grandchildren. She was a member of the Women’s Club of Rochester for more that 50 years, and her kind spirit and quick sense of humor brought great joy to those around her.

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September 22, 2020

Update Regarding NYSDOH Skilled Nursing Visitation Policy

Learn more about the pandemic emergency plan for each community.

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September 15, 2020

Hurlbut Care Communities Pandemic Emergency Plans

On June 17, 2020, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed into Law Chapter 114 of the Laws of 2020 creating a new subdivision 12 to section 2803 of the Public Health Law.

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June 29, 2020

‘Lights for Liberty’ at The Hurlbut

On June 5, Hurlbut Care Communities hosted ‘Lights for Liberty’ at The Hurlbut. We welcomed all families and community members to come out and bring a candle to honor and remember all individuals who have lost their lives to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Thank you to everyone who participated and supported this event!

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June 21, 2020

Moving Forward — Our Commitment to Continuous Improvement

Nursing homes across the state and nation have been overwhelmingly, and disproportionately, affected by this virus and we’re heartbroken for all families who have lost loved ones.

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June 10, 2020

Good News Update: Lucy is 104 and Thriving

Lucy, a Hornell Gardens resident since 2005, is 104 years young and has recently recovered from COVID-19!

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May 22, 2020

Good News Update: Henrietta, 101, Recovers at Avon Nursing & Rehabilitation

Henrietta, an Avon Nursing and Rehabilitation resident since 2012, is 101 years young and recently beat COVID-19! Better known as ‘Hank’ by her friends and staff at Avon, she was able to recover due to her strength and resiliency, as well as the care of Avon’s committed and dedicated staff.

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May 5, 2020

Hurlbut Blog Post for 5/5/20

The New York State Department of Health has made attempts to support nursing homes with personal protective equipment, additional staffing, and more, however, to date, the NYSDOH’s efforts have been woefully ineffective.

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May 4, 2020

Hurlbut Blog Post 5/4/20

To keep our residents and family members apprised of relevant nursing home news, we’ll be compiling and sharing in blog posts here on the website periodically.

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May 1, 2020

Message from President Bob Hurlbut

I am a fierce advocate for resident dignity and privacy rights and am vehemently against releasing any information that would jeopardize it. The recently enacted HERDS survey, mandated by New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) requires nursing homes to not only submit the number of test positive COVID-19 cases and fatalities, which we are complying with, but also the gender, race and initials of those individuals. The latter information directly violates The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, which regulates the sharing of Personal Health Information (PHI).

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April 23, 2020

COVID-19 Update - April 23rd, 2020

First and foremost, our healthcare heroes and staff care deeply about our residents and the families that we serve and make every effort to communicate with all those who inquire about the wellbeing of residents in our care. However, only family members who are a resident’s primary contact, power of attorney, or those on the approved contact list created by the primary contact/resident can be given personal health information. This is the law. We rely heavily on the primary contacts to keep their broader family updated, as is their right to do so as they see fit.

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April 20, 2020

NYS Health Facilities Association Issues Statement on COVID-19 Pandemic in Long Term Care Facilities

Albany, New York — Stephen Hanse, President and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association and the New York State Center for Assisted Living (NYSHFA/NYSCAL) issued the following statement in response to rising number of COVID-19 outbreaks and fatalities in New York’s nursing homes and assisted living communities:

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April 16, 2020

An Update from Bob Hurlbut, CEO

Hurlbut Care Communities has been adhering to the directive sent to all Nursing Homes in NYS on March 25, 2020 by New York State Department of Health’s (NYSDOH) Advisory on Hospital Discharges and Admissions. This advisory requires that nursing homes accept residents with confirmed or suspected diagnosis of COVID-19 as long as they are medically stable.

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April 15, 2020

COVID-19 Update - April 15th, 2020

Thank you to all those assisting in a coordinated effort to address the needs of seniors across the counties we operate. Your efforts, and that of all our healthcare heroes, working tirelessly day and night, assures me that we can overcome this crisis together.

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November 28, 2017

Care. Compassion. Commitment.

For more than 50 years, the Hurlbut family has been providing compassionate care for seniors in the Rochester area. ROHM Services Corporation, the parent company for Hurlbut™ Care Communities, was founded in 1964 by the late Robert H. Hurlbut.

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July 14, 2017

Robert W. Hurlbut: The Arc of Monroe County 2017 Business Partner of the Year

In recognition of his dedication, support and heartfelt care to the people we serve and who reside in our Hurlbut Care Communities, Robert W. Hurlbut was selected as this year's recipient of the Arc of Monroe County's 2017 Business Partner Award.

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June 13, 2017

Caring for Generations: Passing the torch from Father to Son to Son…

Father’s Day reminds us of all the things Dads pass down to their children — values, interests, talents, favorite teams, even a family business. Although, for some fathers, allowing their son to take the lead role in a company they founded can be a difficult pill to swallow. But not for Robert H. Hurlbut.

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March 17, 2017

Join us at Lifespan’s 21st annual Celebration of Aging

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January 23, 2017

An important TV documentary about Alzheimer’s

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January 23, 2017

American Heart Month

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June 15, 2016

Determining When Your Loved One Needs More Care

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March 24, 2016

Get ready to Experience A Hurlbut Hug.

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February 15, 2016

How long do individuals reside at a nursing home?

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November 20, 2015

A Hurlbut first, and fun day for all

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November 6, 2015

Selecting the Right Nursing Home, Part 4

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September 15, 2015

Selecting the Right Nursing Home, Part 3

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July 1, 2015

Some Timely Hurlbut Care News I Wanted to Share

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June 24, 2015

Selecting the Right Nursing Home, Part 2

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June 11, 2015

How to Select a Nursing Home

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December 3, 2014

How to choose a nursing home, part 1

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December 3, 2014

Welcome To Conversations About Care

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Extreme Guilt: Dealing with the feelings surrounding the transition to skilled nursing care.

When you were growing up, your parents were there to take care of you. They were there when you fell off your bike, and you needed a bandage and a hug. They were there when you forgot something in Kindergarten and they brought you something you forgot or needed.

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