The Neponsit Adult Day Health Care Center, a vital lifeline for seniors in Rockaway, Queens, faces imminent closure, sparking discontent among community members. Crain's New York reported that the city's public hospital system plans to shut down the center by the end of the month due to underutilization and financial losses. The facility, which is the public hospital system's only adult day health center, provides essential medical services beyond what recreational senior centers can offer, including medication management and physical therapy.
During a recent City Council budget hearing, Dr. Mitchell Katz, CEO and president of NYC Health + Hospitals, explained that the center is operating at a significant deficit, noting that it is a large subsidy for a small number of people in a service not provided to everyone. Despite this, Councilwoman Selvena Brooks-Powers strongly disagreed, emphasizing the Rockaways' status as a healthcare desert and arguing that the issue is more about lives than dollars.
Meanwhile, local residents relying on Neponsit's services are left feeling uncertain about their healthcare future. CBS News New York highlighted the story of David Paller, a resident with COPD, who described the center as more than just a health facility, but a place of community and connection. "It's a family. It's connections. They have a nurse on premises, a physical therapist on premises," Paller told CBS News New York. His friend and health care proxy, Jeanmarie Fitsch, stressed the center's role in keeping seniors out of nursing homes, thereby helping to maintain their dignity.
Opponents of the closure have questioned the approach of NYC Health + Hospitals in managing the center. Andrew Falzon, whose late father received support for his dementia at the center, accused the health system of suppressing attendance by restricting admissions and insurance coverage, claiming, "The impact to the community is going to be entirely devastating." NYC Health + Hospitals did not directly address these specific concerns, but they provided assurances in a statement saying, "The decision to close a facility is never an easy one, and our focus is on the handful of registrants who remain part of the program. We continue to connect current registrants and their families to other providers and identify alternative day care programs or other specialized programs that will meet their needs. We will have dedicated social work services to support appropriate discharge and provide consistent communication with everyone involved," as per CBS News New York.
The potential closure of the facility has left individuals like Mr. Paller facing long trips to Canarsie for similar care, a difficult challenge for those with health issues. While NYC Health + Hospitals plans to open a new primary care clinic in Far Rockaway in 2027, many residents are still worried about the current loss of healthcare access in the area.
