A recent article by Brianna Gurciullo in the Connecticut Post (“Trumbull nursing home had only 5 operational sinks when it was evacuated: document,” June 9, 2025) has shed disturbing light on what state officials found at St. Joseph’s Center in Trumbull earlier this year. According to the Post, nearly 200 residents were evacuated after an inspection by the Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) revealed that only five of the facility’s 245 sinks were operational, and that there were no working showers, due to a lack of proper Legionella filters in the water system.

As reported by the Post and documented in the DPH March 2025 consent order, this water crisis was not the only issue plaguing the facility. DPH also cited fire safety violations, a boiler and generator out of compliance, and elevator problems that had been the subject of prior enforcement actions. In addition, according to Medicare.gov, St. Joseph’s was fined $15,593 in 2022 after dozens of residents missed critical medications due to insufficient staffing.

While Genesis HealthCare, the owner of St. Joseph’s, has since announced plans to close the facility, serious questions remain about how residents were allowed to live under such conditions for any length of time.

Michael A. D’Amico, founding partner of D’Amico & Pettinicchi, which has represented families in Connecticut nursing home abuse and neglect cases for more than 35 years, expressed outrage over the revelations.

“This is shocking and disgraceful,” said D’Amico. “When a facility reaches the point where nearly 200 residents must be evacuated because of unsafe conditions, the system has clearly failed at multiple levels – and the residents are the ones who suffer.”

This Is Not an Isolated Incident – Connecticut’s Seniors Deserve Better

Sadly, what happened at St. Joseph’s Center is just one highly visible example of a much broader systemic problem.

According to Medicare.gov, as of June 10, 2025, 88 Connecticut nursing homes are currently rated “below average” or “much below average,” receiving just one or two stars out of five. Alarmingly, 39 of those facilities are ranked “much below average.”

“How many more Connecticut nursing homes are quietly operating under similarly unsafe or substandard conditions, simply waiting for the next crisis to force attention?” asked Jeremy D’Amico, trial Lawyer at D’Amico & Pettinicchi. “This is not just about one facility. It’s about a system that is failing thousands of vulnerable residents across our state.”

At D’Amico & Pettinicchi, our attorneys have seen firsthand what happens when corporate owners and operators understaff facilities, cut corners, and fail to meet even the most basic standards of care. The same tragic patterns appear again and again:

• Malnutrition and dehydration
• Untreated infections
• Bedsores and pressure ulcers
• Falls and fractures
• Failure to administer medication
• Physical and emotional abuse
• Unsanitary living conditions
• Lack of proper medical attention

Most of these outcomes are preventable – but they persist when there is insufficient oversight and inadequate accountability.

Where Is the Oversight?

According to the Connecticut Post article, and based on information from DPH documents, the dangerous conditions at St. Joseph’s Center unfolded gradually – over weeks or months, not hours. Yet families were left largely unaware until the state was forced to order an emergency evacuation.

“When you read that a facility’s generator, boiler, and elevators were all out of compliance – on top of a severe water safety issue – it is impossible to believe that this occurred without warning signs,” said Michael A. D’Amico. “We must ask hard questions about why the system allowed this to continue and why it took a near-catastrophe for decisive action to be taken.”

The larger question remains: How many other Connecticut nursing homes are in similar condition today? How many residents are living in unsafe or degrading environments because of weak enforcement or corporate greed?

What Must Change?

Connecticut must act now to ensure that this does not happen again. D’Amico & Pettinicchi calls for:

• More frequent unannounced inspections of nursing homes, with inspection results published promptly and clearly
• Stronger penalties for violations – penalties that are substantial enough to deter bad actors, not token fines easily absorbed
• Real-time public reporting of deficiencies, so families can make informed decisions
• Mandatory staffing minimums and transparency on staffing levels
• Swift closure or state receivership for repeat violators

“Every family should be able to trust that when they place a loved one in a Connecticut nursing home, that person will be safe, cared for, and treated with dignity,” said Jeremy D’Amico. “What happened at St. Joseph’s Center is a grim reminder that we are far from that goal. We cannot let another tragedy unfold in silence.”

Contact Us

If you believe your loved one was seriously injured or mistreated at a Connecticut nursing home or rehabilitation facility, contact us today for a free consultation. We will help you understand your rights and fight for the justice your loved one deserves.

Sources

• Connecticut Post, “Trumbull nursing home had only 5 operational sinks when it was evacuated,” by Brianna Gurciullo, June 9, 2025
• Connecticut Department of Public Health March 2025 consent order and related enforcement documents
• Medicare.gov Connecticut nursing home ratings and penalties, as of June 10, 2025

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is based on publicly available sources, including the June 9, 2025 Connecticut Post article, documents from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, and Medicare.gov. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or an allegation of wrongdoing beyond what has been publicly reported.