Embattled Rehab Center Owner Dies In Custody

Helen (Chayale)  Sieger allegedly bribed hospital officials in exchange for referrals to her nursing home. She was also charged with looting $9 million from Kingsbridge Rehab. She skipped bail on those charges and was rearrested in Miami Beach after racking up thousands of dollars at a hotel under an assumed name.

 

Rehab center owner dies in custody
By Adam Wisnieski • Riverdale Press

Helen Sieger, the embattled owner of Kingsbridge Heights Rehabilitation and Care Center, died in custody on April 18 of a gastrointestinal hemorrhage. She was 57.

Ms. Sieger’s history in Kingsbridge Heights was filled with strikes, court battles and scandal. She acquired the 400-bed nursing home, one of the largest in the Bronx, in 1994, with money she received from a family trust left by her parents.

In 2008, more than 200 workers at Kingsbridge Rehab went on strike because Ms. Sieger refused to pay into their benefit funds. The strike gained national attention and even President Barack Obama issued a statement in support of the strikers during his campaign for president. In August 2008, Ms. Sieger was arrested on charges that she violated the state workers’ compensation law. Later that month, she lost a court battle with 1199 SEIU United Health Care Workers East over contract negotiations and violations of the National Labor Relations Act. A judge ordered Ms. Sieger to pay into funds for workers’ health care and benefits, ending the six-month strike.

During this time, her siblings, who own the property Kingsbridge Rehab sits on, tried to have her evicted. After workers, members of the community and local politicians joined together in 2009 to demand her removal, the Department of Health stepped in, kicked her out and appointed a receiver.

After leaving Kingsbridge Rehab, Ms. Sieger was arrested on grand larceny charges for bribery. According to news reports, she allegedly bribed hospital officials in exchange for referrals to her nursing home. She was also charged with looting $9 million from Kingsbridge Rehab. She skipped bail on those charges and was rearrested in Miami Beach after racking up thousands of dollars at a hotel under an assumed name, according to a Crain’s New York article. After she was returned to New York on August 19, Ms. Sieger was remanded to the court.

She died in Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, a facility used by the New York City Department of Correction to hold seriously ill inmates. 

Ms. Sieger was scheduled to make an appearance at the Bronx Supreme Courthouse on April 26.

Comments

[Dovy]

RIP

[A E ANDERSON]

This is sad because one gets the sense that this woman, utterly inept businesswise, inherited the family nursing home biz and just couldn't function in that inherently messy industry with all its borderline illegalities.

Like ghetto property, nursing homes and their operators have a justly earned bad name for bad business practices. But that's in great part because the nature of the business disallows magnanimity, and forces seller and purchaser alike into shell game financial contortions to make ends meet.

People check into nursing homes often with a year or less of savings to pay for room, board and inpatient skilled nursing care. US Medicare only covers rehabilitative nursing home stays, not long term, terminal residence in a rest home. To meet costs, the nursing home denudes the patient of his or her remaining financial assets, typically at a $90,000+ per annum rate until exhausted. The newly pauperised patient is rendered indigent, and then qualified for a public benefit under Medicaid that typically represents less than the actual cost of care and feeding.

That said, one rarely hears of poor nursing home owners. And the field is heavily populated by politically active, campaign contributing Jews.

[ym]

Isn't interesting that Mr. Roesnberg does not mention that Helen was a hero to him and his ilk?

[Forty Eighter]

What a fall from grace for this feminist hero and trailblazer.

Scott, why dont you ask you friend Zev Brenner to dust off the old tapes of the shows he produced for her dressed up as unbiased news interview shows in which she spewed hate and venom against her then husband and community. Perhaps after listening to the shows in retrospect Zev can apologize to all the rabbonim and innocent family members he hurt at that time.

If there ever was proof that there is a god, this is it. This fabulously wealthy bitch had a life we can only dream of, a beautiful family and wonderful children. For her own reasons she went on a destructive rampage that left a path of victims miles long.

In the end she died peniless, humiliated, disgraced and all alone.

Thank god her former family has long ago regrouped and moved on. They are highly respected and loved by those who know them. They certainly deserve all the happiness they have experienced ever since they removed her from the picture.

Hell will freeze over before the NY Post and Zev Brenner apologize for being on the wrong side of this story way back then. I witnessed the injustice up close. I am just glad that I lived long enough to witness the complete karmic loop.

[Naomi Ragen]

All of those rejoicing in Chaya Seiger's untimely and tragic death need to examine their consciences and priorities. Chaya Seiger proved in court that "Rabbonim" involved in getting her husband a heter 100 Rabbonim to remarrry without divorcing her were crooks on the take (I saw the bank transfer statements-they received thousands of dollars). Her husband and children who abused and abandoned her, are responsible for her early death. While I cannot comment on her subsequent legal problems with the authorities, one thing I know for sure: Chaya Seiger was a victim of her haredi family and her community, a brave woman who helped other abused women with her money and her outspokenness on this taboo subject. May her soul rest in peace.

[ym]

Naomi-
"Her husband and children who abused and abandoned her, are responsible for her early death"
How are they responsible for her death anymore then her being in jail because of her own doing?!?

Btw, she failed to prove anything in court, which is why she died poor and friendless.

[former masmid.]

So much ugliness, mean spiritednes, crookedness, baaa

[PishPosh]

My father tried his hand at the nursing home business on a small scale. It turned out to be hard in terms of getting decent and trustworthy help and most of all when he would ask me to go check up on things I couldn't do it.

I know the loneliness of the people who reside in these homes and don't get visits from family members, sometimes sitting outside and waiting hours every week for a son or daughter who promise but never show up.
When my wife was pregnant and after my daughter was born I would still drive my wife to see my mother-in- laws first cousin and his wife, then in their late 80s at the rest home to ensure they knew that someone was checking up on their comfort since we were only a mile away and my mother in law was 45 minutes when traffic was good.

I sat in the car when she went in because either I was too weak of heart or sensitive, to see our elders under these conditions. But my wife told me that not only her Moms cousin, but also all the residents would always perk up to see the baby and fuss over her. It gave them such naches.

My father finally gave up and had the residents relocated to a family friends nursing home that he knew was an honest and kind man and would not be a bad caretaker and rented out the place for some good money for a rehabilitation center for troubled teens as there were enough rooms and it was ok under the zoning law.

I felt the need to share this with the people here cause when I read about people who abuse those under their care or foul the system and make it harder for honest nursing home owners to do their job more smoothly It really gets under my skin, and the sensitivity I have as regards humane treatment of our elders sets off a rage inside me that I need to keep in check. The Torah says
“You shall rise up before the hoary [aged] head, and honor the face of the old man…”Not rise up and profit while standing on their frail bodies.

[Jeff]

If there ever was proof that there is a god, this is it.

I can't stand it when people make statements like this. What about all of the miserable bastards who enjoy good health well into their nineties? What about people who suffer horribly and would prefer death, but who go on year after year? Your imaginary sky fairy has absolutely nothing to do with any of it.

[OMG]

Posted by: Forty Eighter | May 24, 2011 at 12:46 AM

I don’t know enough of the divorce story, but you seem to have a warped outlook, again and again I see you take the side which a real human should avoid.

[amshinover]

i worked for her and listened to her crap over and over and let me tell you she did this all to herself.
right down to not letting the elmhurst doctors help her in her last moments (yes she died for no reason)

[Moshe aron Kestenbaum,Williamsburg ODA]

What a sad sad story,my heart goes out for her neshoma, (Chayale) Sieger was a saint, what she endured I dont wish on my enemies, hopefully now she will rest in peace.

[Isa]

There is money to be made by someone who has the right personality to become...

A 'niece' or a 'nephew'[with the family's permission] of some resident of a home whose family is too busy or distant to regularly visit. Also nursing homes [I have been told]take better care of someone that has regular visitors.

When we visited my wife's grandmother, we brought our Sheltie [Shetland Sheepdog]with us. While I was waiting on some porch of the home this lady came up and started to dance with the Sheltie cause they took her little mop dog away from her when she went in and was so lonely

[Alter Kocker]

I do not know of the subsequent legal battles Ms Sieger endured with respect to the nursing home business she operated, however, I am well acquainted with her divorce and subsequent trials. She endured an awful lot and exposed the rabbonim for the misogynistic thieves that they are. For that, she lost her family.

May she rest in peace.

[Gefilte Fish]

This is a very sad story. While Mrs. Sieger's conduct was criminal, I wonder if the disgusting treatment she endured from her community and family led to her downfall.

I will never forget the article I read a few years ago, detailing the awful divorce proceedings that Mrs. Sieger endured. One thing that she said was that, in the frum world, "there is no one better treated that a religious married women, but there is no one treated worse than a religious women who wants a divorce."

Apparently, she had enough of her philandering and gambling-addicted husband; he, however, would not grant her a get unless she turned over her entire share of the nursing home business. When she refused, the rabbis gave him a heter to marry another woman, and her children cut off all contact with her.

[Anon Please]

Hello.
I took a look at the ratings for Kingsbridge, at the NYS site. [Feds have one too, NYS usually more on target]
http://nursinghomes.nyhealth.gov/nursing_homes/inspection/381/printable
The place wasn't great already, but from a quick review, it appears that since Helen left the place went downhill. Badly.
Online they have posted results from surveys from 2008 to 2011. Each got worse.
This happens when there is turnover of administration, with a poorer quality admin coming in, which leads to the new one doing bad things, and the ratings go down for real reasons.
================
August 8, 2008 Complaint Survey Standard Health Inspection n = 3
Total = 3
===========
November 7, 2008 Certification Survey - Standard Health Inspection n = 1
Standard Life Safety Code Inspection n = 5
Total = 6
==========
December 18, 2009 Certification Survey Standard Health Inspection n = 9
Standard Life Safety Code Inspection n = 4
Total = 13
==========
January 11, 2011 Certification Survey Standard Health Inspection n = 8
Standard Life Safety Code Inspection n = 2
Total = 10

[Jeff]

When she refused, the rabbis gave him a heter to marry another woman, and her children cut off all contact with her.

I've never really understood this. Obviously, the rabbi is crooked, but leaving that aside - she's still married, but he isn't?

[Gefilte Fish]

At the time that he married wifey #2, he was still married to Helen. What the rabbis allowed him to do was to have 2 wives at the same time. According to secular law, he was only married to Helen; this does, however, not deter the ultra-religious, who consider the Jewish ceremony as the only one that counts. Thus, wife #2 was not recognized by the state as being married to him (I do not know if Helen and her husband eventually were divorced according to secular law and if wife #2 was then married to Mr. Seiger.)

By the way, they would absolutely NEVER allow a woman to have two husbands. They also would never allow her to get a divorce in order to marry a particular man.

[Jeff]

Ah, I get it, thanks. I never understood how the man could "remarry", but the woman remained an agunah. I wondered if it might have something to do with polygyny.

Bottom line: once again, the man does as he wishes while the woman gets screwed. Why am I not surprised?

[Jeff]

If this ever happens to that woman who was here the other day, telling us that Haredi women are treated like queens, I wonder if she'll sing a different tune?

[Gefilte Fish]

Jeff, technically, if the rabbis allow the man to marry a second woman, it's because the first wife refused the demands under which the Jewish divorce was given. Usually, there is a document sitting somewhere in some rabbi's office, which wife #1 can take when she finally is tired of wasting her life. At this point, however, the husband couldn't care less about her, and is even less likely to give in to demands, unless a civil divorce hasn't yet been granted. Unfortunately (but not in this case), more often than not, the first wife was persuaded somehow to divorce her husband in civil courts in order to perpetuate welfare fraud.

In the case of an agunah, the husband categorically refuses to issue a get, so the woman is "chained" and cannot remarry.

[Jeff]

In the case of an agunah, the husband categorically refuses to issue a get, so the woman is "chained" and cannot remarry.

But a rabbi can give the man permission to marry another woman, because halakhically, a many may have more than one wife, correct?

Also, how does a civil divorce help to perpetuate welfare fraud?

[Gefilte Fish]

Jeff, because according to the state, the parents are now divorced--the calculation of benefits is greater for 2 households than for 1 combined household.

While I am not a chassid, a good friend of mine whose family escaped from the chassidic world told me that many families pull this stunt. They get married according to the state (NY, NJ, whichever), plus they have a religious ceremony. A few years later, they get a civil divorce, but remain married under Jewish law. The problem is, without the protection of civil law, the woman in such a case is powerless if her husband is abusive, philandering, etc., because the ultra-religious rabbis will do NOTHING for her. If her husband is abusive, they will find fault with her behavior as to what provokes him. If he cheats on her, they will tell her to put up with it or to lose weight, be a "better wife," or other such nonsense. They almost NEVER force the husband to divorce her and to give her community property; the tiny percentage of cases that do result in divorce happen because the wife's family will pay a ransom for her freedom or because she agrees to give up custody and agrees not to see her children.

[Jeff]

Horrendous. I wish you had been here the other day when that Haredi woman was telling us how women in their world are treated like queens. She was insufferable.

[Forty Eighter]

I am very familiar with the case she led against the rabbonim. It was based on pure fancy and paranoia. The initial judge liked the fact that she was suing every rabbi in the phone book, so he decided to have some fun with the case. the appeals court threw the case out and had some harsh words of rebuke for the initial judge.

It was all hogwash. She was never abused. Herhusband did not want to take a penny from her. All he wanter was the shrew out of her life. Anyone who knows her ex-husband and kids know that they are the nicest people. When she slung mud they did not sling back. They were classy throughout. They let nature run its course. In the end the whole world found out the truth that the only demon pursuing Chaya Seiger was herself.

[jerzelah]

i still will care for mr tennnbum child-this case is still open for emits so sad for me-why and why it happened-some times i think that we are allwright and all wrong-and again for respect of her papa-some in the iside of rabbi system went wrong-o right-again -it happendbut is still something missing -should we forget or not-yes and not-of course we can forget-but-its so difficult forget -why=bcause i can't forget and something is -will -something is body me-in this case-i better go sleep and forget-but in the morning -i still have back thoughts about this case-may be i should forget-but i can't-that is no way-to forget-its still bleeding

[jerzelah]

it a very difficult to-but she love so much to be close to nature and she sens so much about light and darkness-her eyes -see throughtnow i spoke we some-but it doesn't matter -i feel that she is so pretty and i i will always care for my majesty she couldntsmile to be in this system with so many very agressive friends-i can't forget when she have truble with her health -and to much trouble with herweight-she was -she put on her feet kapciuszki-ona jest kochany kopciszek-i always love-her-i have a trouble with long distance phone-accused me to have such a relansiop ship -and i understand-that-my chayech-ids still in my heath-and is verry poopurpppure miss you helen-and you always be with me in my hearth and soul -will newer leave you alone-love the way you are so open to this sad life