Suffolk Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing suspected of Neglect after two particularly gruesome deaths of residents last year

Nursing Home Neglect may have caused the death of two residents at the Suffolk Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, a Long Island nursing home.

Thomas Bischoff died of sepsis after bedsores grew so large on his body that a human fist could fit inside some of the holes in his skin. Bedsores of that size are a sign of nursing home abuse.

A few months after Thomas died , Raymond Curiale another resident accidentally hanged himself. According to his plan care, Curiale who suffered from dementia was to be checked on every 15 minutes. After the staff forgot to check on him for 57 minutes, he was found slumped against his wheelchair, the seat belt around his neck, strangled.

An investigation by NBC I-Team is questioning why in recent years the State of New York dropped enforcement actions against nursing homes. In 2007, The New York Health Department issued 142 enforcement actions against nursing homes. In 2011 there were 81 and last year only 27. The New State Health Department declined to comment.