A Coney Island nursing home faced scrutiny after fatal assault: In September, 89-year-old Holocaust survivor Nina Kravtsov was fatally assaulted by a fellow resident at Seagate Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Coney Island, shocking Brooklyn’s elder care community. Police reported that 95-year-old Galina Smirnova bludgeoned Kravtsov with a wheelchair leg, and she was charged with murder while her competency to stand trial was reviewed. In the weeks that followed, Brooklyn Paper spoke with Kravtsov’s attorney, Randy Zelin, who criticized the facility’s negligence and noted that her death highlighted systemic failures that left residents vulnerable. Seagate, owned by Excelsior Care Group, had a history of citations for understaffing, poor dementia care, unsafe conditions, and failure to report incidents. State inspections revealed staffing shortages and insufficient supervision, particularly for residents with dementia. Advocates and politicians, including state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, called for increased accountability and potential reforms to prevent future tragedies. The New York State Department of Health confirmed the death was under investigation.

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