Deptartment of Health probes home

In the wake of an alleged rape at the Manhattanville Health & Rehabilitation Center on Feb. 18, a state Department of Health official said that an investigation into the nursing home is underway, but declined to provide details. 

That disclosure to The Press followed calls from the alleged victim’s children as well as State Sen. Ruben Díaz Sr. for such an inquiry. 

“I request your office to conduct a full and complete review of this facility including a review of any prior occurrences… to determine if this facility should be permitted to continue service to the public,” Mr. Díaz wrote to state Commissioner of Health Dr. Nirav Shah in a Feb. 20 letter.

Mr. Díaz, the ranking member on the state Senate’s Committee on Aging, also called for the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to investigate the Manhattanville nursing home.

While Uri Schwartz, the center’s administrator, said Manhattanville conducted a background check on Mr. Aidasani and said his staff did everything possible to help bring the nurse to justice, he added that his thoughts go out to the victim and her family.

“If it was my family member, I would probably do the same thing. I would probably call for an investigation,” Mr. Schwartz said. “That does not mean the facility did not do the right thing and took somebody they suspected and worked well with the police.”