Editor’s Note: The following remarks were delivered today by Beaver County Commissioner Jack Manning during a public meeting of the Board of Commissioners. We are publishing Manning’s statement in full as prepared by the commissioner.
“I’d like to take a few minutes to speak to the families and friends of residents and employees of Brighton Rehab. I haven’t spoken publicly about this to the press or on social media but I have responded the best I can to the dozens of emails, texts and messages from those family members to the best of my ability. I’ve answered each and every one, and I have heard their frustration, heartache and the horror of not being able to control what it happening to their loved ones. Their stories are truly heartbreaking and I share their concern and frustration.
“Today is my 99th day in office. I vowed on day one to bring my work ethic and experience to provide good governance, non-political decision making and problem solving to the Courthouse. From that first day and everyday since then, I have shown up bright and early ready to work with every county employee to battle whatever obstacles and barriers stand in our way to improving the way we do our work and fulfill our oath of office. But I never imagined battling such an insidious and challenging foe as the COVID-19 virus. None of us did.
“I’ve exhausted my thinking and our collective capability to come up with satisfactory solutions to the angst expressed by those families. I, all three of us, have no direct purview over private businesses doing lawful work under the Governor’s orders and declaration. Like all fourth class counties, we do not have a health department nor any legal oversight to intervene, even if we had any viable solutions to stopping the spread of this virus in the facility. They are part of our healthcare system and there is no other alternative for their care at this time.
“All we can do is try to mitigate the spread of this unprecedented pandemic, and the pain being inflicted personally, socially and economically on every resident of Beaver County. We’re doing all we possibly can under circumstances. We offer you our support and sympathy. We will get through this if we understand and respect each other with the same sense of community and unity we have always shown in times of difficulty. I ask you to keep the faith, follow the advice of the experts, stay home as much as you can, and stay safe.”
See Also: Sources: At Least 11 Dead At Brighton Rehab From COVID-19 With 57 Patients Positive For The Virus
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Thank you for repeating what we hear everyday from the White House press briefings. I have asked about a Beaver County Dept of Health many times and never did anyone say that 4th class counties do not have such a thing. So thanks for nothing.
https://www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/profile.html?fbclid=IwAR2UA2ICmeJfYwd_EJfwPwxaSpyjBsizSkM5dGRN2rSAqdwRj25Yn0Op8w0
Someone is failing them on inspection
Bullshit… someone needs to step in and get control of that mess whether it’s the township, county, state or federal authorities. Brighton Rehab is neglectful maintaining their business to the point it poses a danger to their neighbors and the community – authorities should treat it just as they would any derelict property.
Whole lotta nothing.
Where you gonna move 500 frail people to?
Someplace safe without mixing positive and negative patients together
It’s NOT a prison. If I was a concerned person, I’d move my loved one out. Simple.
Fuckers couldn’t move fast enough to sell Friendship Ridge to those clowns and even walked them to the assessment office so they could get the big tax breaks. Wish ya had that fucking tax money now don’t ya? Lot of grease going around then in my opinion.
Yes our thoughts and prayers are going out to all of the patients and employees of the Brighton Reb in Beaver but someone needs to address the rest of the county’s fears of not being informed of the actual circumstances at the center. There has been no transparency regarding number of cases, people infected or if the employees are even being quarantined. For the rest of the BC residents that must go out into the public it is unfair that they are not being told of the additional risks put upon us as a whole due to the secrets being held behind closed doors. My family has firsthand experience with this facility and are not surprised to see what is happening there My husband was sent there after major surgery due to throat cancer last year. He had a trach and a feeding tube. The place was HORRIBLE! Filthy dirty, incompetent care givers, lack of knowledge of how to address the needs of the patients and for the most part such a blatant lack of compassion toward the patients. During the four days (I got him out ASAP on Easter Sunday) we witnessed patients attempting to care for one another, urine left on the floor for hours, filthy rooms and seating. They have no procedures in place to handle biohazard items. When I asked one of the employees to get my husband a clean gown because his had blood all over it she just handed it to me. I didn’t mind that at all but there was no where to place the soiled one. I asked for a proper bio bag and three of the employees at the desk just looked at each other until one finally asked the other two if they had any. The did not. So one of the women came in to my husbands room and threw the bloody gown and bib into a corner of the room. I asked her again for a receptacle and she said she would try to find something. About 20 min later she brought a large green trash bag and threw it into the sink. I could tell more horror stories but I hope you are understanding the situation there. It is a disgrace and the people who run it should be held accountable. There MUST BE someone who can monitor what happens there. One final note. Regarding social distancing at that facility. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN. My husband was put into a standard room which had 4 beds with just about 6 inches apart and a dirty curtain hung between them. The conditions there are shockingly INSANITARY! If anyone would like to discuss this with me further please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Mark this week on your calendars as the time these commissioners were warned! You had the opportunity to act as leaders but your frightened of your own shadows. More people will die in that place and BC because of your inaction. I hope your held accountable when this ends. Most importantly, you must have a good laugh to reduce the stress of the moment so take a minute and call the PA health Dept lines and listen to the recording that informs you that the office is closed to the corona virus pandemic! I kid you not call the 800 number and verify it for yourself.
The entire board of commissioners should resign immediately without hesitation! Three crackheads from the valley could do a better job than this three ring circle.
I second every word of this post. I had a close relative that spent his last few months at this horrible place. We searched to try to get him moved after 2weeks but there were no beds available anywhere else. They had no clue what they were doing and the so called doctors don’t give a shit.
Maybe applicable, maybe not…..PA Title 18 subsection 2713 (a)(3) and (a)(d) Enforcement
Mr. Manning announced his 10-14 day self-quarantine on March 18. He attended the March 26th board meeting; to me he sounded short of breath and raspy.
He also admitted that he had been going into the courthouse during this time. By doing so only in the early morning, before most arrived, he felt it was safe for everyone. Is his idea of public safety going into a clean building and possibly contaminating it for the rest of the day?
Attending the meeting, esp without a mask, was irresponsible as well.
How many countians will follow your example?