SOUTH HADLEY — The state has temporarily taken over a beleaguered nursing home in South Hadley that came under scrutiny last week after a variety of complaints were lodged against it, including unpaid wages, staffing shortages and unpaid taxes to the town.

The Suffolk Superior Court on Friday granted a petition from the state Attorney General’s Office and Department of Public Health to place Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center and two other nursing home facilities owned by Blupoint Healthcare under emergency receivership to alleviate the financial, staffing and sanitary issues the buildings have faced over the past five months.

KCP Advisory Group LLC, a management and financial consulting firm out of Billerica, will run the facility for 60 days, according to the court ruling. The other facilities included in the petition are the Blackstone Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center in Northbridge and Mill Town Health and Rehabilitation in Amesbury. The only Blupoint Facility not included in the receivership is Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol.

The DPH also called on the Medical Reserve Corps to supplement care at the understaffed facility in South Hadley, according to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. DPH is in daily communication with both Blupoint Health and the 132-bed long-term care facility located at 573 Granby Road, South Hadley.

“The priority for the Healey-Driscoll administration is to ensure that safe, high-quality care is provided for all nursing home residents. DPH remains actively engaged in this matter, conducting daily calls with facility staff as well as ownership of the facilities, and providing staff and other supports at the facilities,” a Health and Human Services spokesperson said.

The moves came after state Rep. Dan Carey and state Sen. Jake Oliveria a week ago called for a formal investigation into the conditions at Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center following employees reporting extreme burnout, lack of supplies and paychecks bouncing from their accounts.

Severe understaffing required the remaining medical staff to work up to 60 hours per week to maintain care for residents. The letter also said vendors pulled out after the facility failed to pay for supplies, leaving residents to sit in their own excrement without a fresh bed pad, and staff to clean with pillowcases.

“After weeks of public pressure, the Suffolk Superior Court ruling placing Pioneer Valley Health and Rehabilitation Center, operated by Blupoint Healthcare in South Hadley, under receivership marks a critical step towards addressing the severe issues that have plagued this facility and others operated by this company,” Oliveria said in a statement said. “I commend the Attorney General’s office for taking decisive action to protect some of our community’s most vulnerable. Moving forward, our primary focus must be on ensuring the safety, well-being, and dignity of both the residents and the hardworking staff who care for them.”

South Hadley’s Department of Health filed several grievances on behalf of the town, South Hadley Electric Lighting Department, South Hadley Water District 1 and the Department of Public Works for unpaid bills and fees. The facility owes $200,000 in real estate taxes, trash bills and sewer bills alone, with the amount increasing daily.

In addition to local debts, Blupoint Healthcare owes MassHealth money after the institution loaned Blupoint funds in Septermber and October 2023. The statement from EOHHS said loans were suppose to be paid in full by the end of 2023, but Blupoint requested multiple extensions. State officials did not specify how much the company owes the state. As of July 18, none of the money has been paid back, the EOHHS spokesperson said.

Two weeks ago, several nurses, certified nursing assistants and staff members protested the facility’s failure to pay them. According to nurse Christine Maclure, staff decided to picket after paychecks bounced for a second time in four weeks. According to EOHHS, DPH is aware of the financial issues with employees and vendors, and state-contracted teams of nurses and certified nursing assistants have been supporting staff at the nursing homes since July 13. The statement did not say which facilities received support.

DPH surveyed Pioneer Valley, Blackstone Valley and Mill Town Health several times last week, and found patients at Mill Town to be in “immediate jeopardy.” While Pioneer Valley and Blackstone Valley voluntary froze admissions, the state imposed a freeze on Mill Town admissions after the survey.

KCP Advisory Group, DPH and the AG’s Office also will determine if one or more of the facilities will need to close, in which case residents would be moved to another facility.

Blupoint Healthcare representatives could not be reached for comment.

Emilee Klein can be reached at eklein@gazettenet.com.