The state Department of Health is investigating allegations of severe understaffing and patient neglect at a nursing home in Orange.

Assemblyman James Skoufis says his office has received numerous complaints about nursing home in Goshen. He says he has heard of instances of excrement being found in the shoes, socks and pants of patients.

Sapphire Nursing Home on Harriman Avenue was bought out late last year. The 120-bed nursing home was formerly known as "Elant."

Skoufis says the new owners, Goshen Operations LLC, slashed jobs and reduced the workforce by half in just a few weeks, despite promising to keep staffing the same.

"This is a direct result of the new administration's approach to providing care," Skoufis says.

A representative for the facility says the Department of Health was there for eight days last month and didn't find any issues of immediate concern. They also say they are working to smooth the transition by hiring temporary staff to fill in.

Two people at the facility told News 12 they had no complaints about the facility but said their relatives had only been there a few days.

County officials say case workers with the Office for the Aging are now reaching out to patients.