News about conditions at Newtown Rehabilitation and Health Care Center, which is owned by Athena Health Care Systems, should be concerning to us as a community and to everyone in it, regardless of age. A CT Mirror investigative series reported the state Department of Public Health “found conditions at the facility that could cause serious harm or death” at the nursing home.

While we are still awaiting details on what prompted the DPH to issue an “immediate jeopardy” order against the facility — and to request that Athena immediately stop taking admissions — it is clear from some who were interviewed at length in the article that the level of care for at least some residents at the Toddy Hill Road complex has been miserably inadequate.

While COVID-era staffing shortages may be found to have contributed to the current situation, The Newtown Bee has occasionally heard from readers that the kinds of issues described in the CT Mirror report were occurring after Athena acquired the former Masonicare operation and its 45-acre campus in 2018.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, every one of those requesting The Bee look into their degradation of care allegations refused to go on the record, or they insisted on remaining anonymous. Most stated they feared that putting their name to a complaint of record would lead to their loved one being subjected to some type of retaliatory action.

Luckily, as reported in today’s edition of The Newtown Bee, the residents and loved ones of those remaining at Newtown Rehabilitation and Health Care Center have an ally and advocate. State Senator Tony Hwang has vowed to seek accountability and push for action to try and ensure these most severe lapses in basic human care do not continue.

The CT Mirror report also prompted Friends Of Newtown Seniors Co-Founder and President John S. Boccuzzi, Sr, to reflect on how ageism affects the lives of so many, but is something that is not discussed seriously in our culture. After learning about how many state nursing home residents were infected with COVID, and how many were lost because of it, Boccuzzi penned a Letter Hive submission calling for action on investigating nursing homes — especially those owned by big corporations which often have homes scattered across the country.

He said the most striking thing about his attempt to raise awareness concerning that issue was it drew not a single follow-up letter, phone call, or even in-person comment from anyone. It seemed ironic to him that a few years before when writing about speeding traffic on his street and the need for speed bumps, there were many rebuttal letters — one even referring to him as “bumpologist.”

The letter exchanges over speed bumps went on for weeks, unlike the results of his attempt to call attention to a statewide and apparently nationwide life and death issue in nursing homes.

In light of this most recent situation right here in Newtown, we must take aggressive steps as a community and as a state to value, cherish, and protect our older residents and those who cannot defend themselves or speak out against harm being done to them — either from willful abuse, or just simple uncaring neglect.