Roger Townsend is the new longterm care director as CNR. Photo by Travis Clark
The Livingston County Board of Supervisors has named Roger Eric Townsend as the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation’s (CNR) next long-term care director, effective Jan. 12, 2025.
Townsend brings more than 30 years of experience in social work and healthcare administration to his new role. He previously served as the county nursing home’s deputy director of long-term care since May of 2019. In that position his responsibilities included operational management, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, and strategic planning for the 266-bed county-owned nursing facility. Before that, he worked as administrator and vice president of long-term care at the Finger Lakes Center for Living. Townsend said this position was a logical next step in a career dedicated to helping older adults thrive through compassionate, high-quality care.
“Stepping into this role was a natural progression after 28 years as a medical social worker,” explained Townsend. “Serving as assistant director gave me the opportunity to become familiar with the amazing staff that work here and to build relationships with the residents and their families. I worked on obtaining my Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) license in 2017 and passed the LNHA test that same year. I have always loved working with older adults. My strong relationship with my grandfather influenced my career path in that regard.”
As long-term care director, Townsend will be responsible for comprehensive management of the county’s nursing home. He will oversee all aspects of resident care, clinical services, staff management, and operational readiness. Townsend plans to maintain the focus on resident-centered care while pursuing excellence in all areas of facility performance.
“I would like to continue on the path of providing quality care to our residents with special emphasis on their quality of life,” said Townsend. “Ultimately, I would like this facility to achieve a five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).”
CMS created their Five-Star Quality Rating System to help consumers, their families, and caregivers more easily compare nursing homes throughout the U.S. The federal agency considers a number of factors when creating rankings, including health inspections, quality measures, and staffing levels. The CNR earned a four-star CMS rating in 2024. As the second highest rating awarded, the ranking placed it “above average” overall when compared to other nursing homes throughout the state and across the country.
County Administrator David Pribulka praised Townsend for his excellent stewardship of the facility since beginning work there.
“Mr. Townsend has demonstrated consistently that he is the right person to lead CNR and build on the tradition of providing the highest quality of care to our residents,” stated Pribulka. “I’m excited to see the positive impact his leadership will continue to have on the facility and wish him the best as he takes on this new position.”
The CNR offers 24-hour skilled nursing services ranging from short-term, post-acute rehabilitative care to traditional long-term care. Residents receive care in a manner that addresses the needs of the individual. The CNR promotes a friendly, welcoming atmosphere with activities that involve friends, family, volunteers, and pets to create a homelike environment for residents.
One of the most comprehensive facilities in the area, the CNR offers various treatment methods and modern healthcare options, including audiology, consulting podiatry, dentistry, speech therapy, ophthalmology, occupational therapy, pharmacological services, hair care, and more.
For more information, visit the Livingston County Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation website, or call 585-243-7200.
