Lifespire, Inc.: Ownership, Lawsuits, and Safety Record
Michael Hill and the team at Michael Hill Trial Law investigate abuse, neglect, and wrongful-death cases involving group homes and intermediate care facilities (ICF/IIDs), and we represent families nationwide. The firm focuses on neglect and abuse in group homes, ICF/IIDs, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities. Lifespire is a New York City nonprofit that provides residential and day services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, operating about 118 residences in the New York metropolitan area. It is funded almost entirely by Medicaid and state programs.
If someone you love was injured or died in a group home or ICF operated by Lifespire or one of its brands, you may have legal options, and time limits can be short. Case reviews are free and confidential. Start your case or call (800) 659-2712.
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Ownership and financial figures are drawn from public filings, state and federal records, and news reporting; regulatory and lawsuit items are from government records and court filings, each cited at the end of this page. Lawsuits and criminal charges are allegations unless a court has ruled; state findings may be appealed.
Group Home & ICF/IID Case Types We Handle
The injuries and neglect we investigate in group homes and intermediate care facilities.
Lifespire at a Glance
- Legal name: Lifespire, Inc.
- Headquarters: New York, New York
- Founded: Not independently verified in this review
- Ownership: Nonprofit (501(c)(3))
- Scale: About 118 residences (New York City metro)
- Revenue: About $110.7 million (fiscal year 2025)
- Brands: Lifespire, Inc.; Lifespire Services, Inc.; Lifespire Foundation, Inc.
- Headline issues: A New York State Comptroller audit recommended disallowing $167,041 in claimed costs; a federal single audit reported a material weakness in internal controls
Group homes and ICF/IIDs are licensed and inspected mainly by the states and, for ICF/IIDs, by federal CMS — there is no federal five-star rating like the one for nursing homes. Counts below are from public records and are not a complete litigation history; they do not by themselves indicate the quality of any individual home.
What Group Homes and ICF/IIDs Are — and Why Harm Happens
A group home is a residential setting where a small number of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD) live together with staff support. An intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IID) is a federally certified, Medicaid-funded facility that must meet federal standards for active treatment, health care, and client protections. Many residents cannot fully protect themselves or reliably report what happens to them, which is exactly why staffing, supervision, and training decide whether people are safe.
The injuries that recur in these settings are rarely mysterious. They include falls and fractures; bedsores and pressure injuries; choking on the wrong diet texture; dehydration, malnutrition, and bowel obstruction and fecal impaction; medication errors; wandering and elopement; physical or sexual assault by staff or other residents; and, in the worst cases, wrongful death. The common thread is understaffing — a home that accepts residents it is not staffed or trained to care for makes the harm foreseeable.
Who Owns Lifespire?
Lifespire, Inc. is a New York nonprofit (EIN 13-2526022) governed by a volunteer board and headquartered in New York City. It reported about $110.7 million in revenue for fiscal year 2025, with program-service revenue making up roughly 97% of the total. A New York State Comptroller audit found that Lifespire's programs were funded about 90% by Medicaid and other programs and 10% by state funds.
Two affiliated entities, Lifespire Services, Inc. and Lifespire Foundation, Inc., appear in filings; Lifespire Services is a shell with no revenue, and its officers' pay is the same salary paid by Lifespire, Inc., reported as related-organization compensation rather than additional pay. Reported chief-executive compensation for CEO Thomas Lydon was about $325,485 plus other compensation in FY2025.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2006-02 | Lifespire's workforce unionized with CSEA Local 1000 |
| 2017-12 | New York State Comptroller issued audit 2016-S-2 recommending $167,041 in disallowances |
| 2017-11 | Mark van Voorst departed as president/CEO; Thomas Lydon became CEO |
| 2025 | Headquarters relocation reported |
Revenue, Public Funding, and Finances
Lifespire reported net income of about $6.3 million in FY2025. Its only large deficit year on record was FY2021, when it reported a loss of about $7.8 million as revenue fell. A federal single audit for FY2024 reported a material weakness in internal controls, according to the audit summary compiled by ProPublica; the underlying finding was not reviewed for this profile.
Lifespire Leadership
Thomas (Tom) Lydon is chief executive officer and president, succeeding Mark van Voorst, who left in 2017. Emilio Bonilla is chief financial officer and Diana Portocarrero Vega is chief operating officer. The board chair is Michael S. Gross.
Lifespire Brand Names and the Entity on the License
The name on a state license, inspection report, or court filing is often a subsidiary or brand. Families searching state records should look for these names:
| Family | Names you may see |
|---|---|
| Lifespire | Lifespire, Inc. (operating entity); Lifespire Services, Inc. (shell); Lifespire Foundation, Inc. |
Where Lifespire Operates
Lifespire operates residences and day programs across the New York City metropolitan area, including an intermediate care facility in the Bronx. Its workforce has been represented by CSEA Local 1000 since 2006.
Lifespire Lawsuits, Government Findings, and Regulatory Record
The strongest verified matters in Lifespire's record are financial and compliance findings: a 2017 New York State Comptroller audit recommended disallowing $167,041 in claimed costs, and a federal single audit for FY2024 reported a material weakness in internal controls. A resident personal-injury suit (Piggott v. Lifespire) was revived on appeal in 2017, but its final outcome was not found. A review of court records and news coverage for this profile did not find verified wrongful-death or abuse verdicts, or criminal cases naming Lifespire staff.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| State audits | 1 |
| Federal audit findings | 1 |
| Civil lawsuits | 1 |
This is not a complete litigation history, and the existence of a lawsuit or complaint is not proof of wrongdoing. A settlement is not an admission of liability. Findings by state agencies may be appealed.
Notable matters
- 2017 — State audit finding (disallowance recommended): New York State Comptroller audit 2016-S-2. A December 2017 New York State Comptroller audit covering the two fiscal years ended June 30, 2015 identified $167,041 in claimed costs that did not comply with the state's reimbursement manual and recommended that the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities disallow them. The amount included $70,129 in personal-service costs lacking time records for 44 employees, $64,051 in obligations created after the contract year ended, and $18,500 in vehicle costs without required board approval. Amount: $167,041. Source
- 2024 — Audit finding: Federal single audit - material weakness. A federal single audit for fiscal year 2024 reported a material weakness in internal controls, according to the audit summary compiled by ProPublica. The underlying finding was not reviewed for this profile. Source
- 2017 — Allegation (civil suit; final outcome not found): Piggott v. Lifespire resident personal-injury suit. In a personal-injury suit brought on behalf of a resident described as entirely dependent on others for his care, a New York appellate court in 2017 reversed a trial-court dismissal and sent the case back for further proceedings. The claims are allegations; the final outcome has not been found. Source
Complaint and Harm Types in the Lifespire Record
Across the public records reviewed, these are the kinds of harm that recur — the same kinds our firm investigates in group homes and ICF/IIDs. If your loved one experienced any of these, it may support a claim:
Who May Be Legally Responsible
Because Lifespire operates through separate state entities and brands — and because the parent company, the licensed operator, the employer of the staff, and in some cases the property owner may be different companies — a lawsuit may need to name more than one defendant. Names that have appeared in records involving these homes include:
- Lifespire, Inc.
- Lifespire Services, Inc.
- Lifespire Foundation, Inc.
What to Do If You Suspect Neglect or Abuse in a Group Home or ICF
- Get medical care. Call 911 or go to the hospital for any serious injury, sudden decline, or unexplained bruising, fracture, or weight loss.
- Report it. Notify the home’s administrator in writing, the state or county developmental disabilities agency that receives incident reports, adult protective services, and law enforcement for any suspected crime.
- Find the licensed entity. Ask for the license or check your state’s provider lookup; the company on the license is often a state subsidiary or brand name rather than the parent company.
- Document everything. Take photos, write down dates, times, and names, and save texts and emails.
- Request records. Ask for incident reports, the individual service or program plan, medication administration records, and staffing schedules. Guardians and authorized representatives usually have access rights.
- Be careful with statements and documents. Do not give recorded statements to insurers or sign releases or arbitration agreements before talking to a lawyer. Deadlines can be short.
Why Families Bring Group Home and ICF Cases to Michael Hill Trial Law
These cases are won by lawyers who try them. Michael Hill and the team at Michael Hill Trial Law focus on neglect and abuse in group homes, ICF/IIDs, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities, and the firm has obtained record results, including $26 million, the highest recorded verdict against a nursing home in Ohio history. The firm’s main office is in Cleveland, Ohio; it practices nationwide, its attorneys are licensed in numerous states, and it works with affiliate firms across the country. The review is free, and you owe nothing unless we recover for you.
Start your free, confidential case review | Call (800) 659-2712
Frequently Asked Questions About Lifespire
Is Lifespire a nonprofit?
Yes. Lifespire, Inc. is a New York nonprofit (501(c)(3)) based in New York City, reporting about $110.7 million in revenue for fiscal year 2025 and funded roughly 90% by Medicaid and other programs.
What did the New York State Comptroller audit find?
A December 2017 audit covering fiscal years 2014-2015 recommended disallowing $167,041 in claimed costs, including personal-service costs lacking time records for 44 employees, obligations created after the contract year ended, and unapproved vehicle costs.
Were there any resident-injury lawsuits?
A personal-injury suit brought on behalf of a dependent resident (Piggott v. Lifespire) was revived by a New York appellate court in 2017; its final outcome was not found. No verified wrongful-death or abuse verdicts were found for this profile.
How many residences does Lifespire operate?
About 118 residences across the New York City metropolitan area, including an intermediate care facility in the Bronx.
Can I sue a group home or ICF operator for neglect or abuse?
Generally, families may bring civil claims against a group home or ICF operator when neglect or abuse causes injury or death, and the parent company and the licensed entity may both be proper defendants. Deadlines, damage rules, and required pre-suit steps vary by state, and arbitration clauses and Medicaid liens can matter. A lawyer licensed in your state can explain your options. Michael Hill Trial Law offers free, confidential case reviews for families nationwide.
Who is legally responsible when someone is harmed in a group home?
Often more than one company. These operators frequently run each home through a separate local entity that holds the license, while the building may be owned by another company and staff employed by a third; for-profit owners and investors can sit above all of them. The right defendants depend on who held the license, who employed the staff, who managed care, and who owned the property at the time of the harm.
What if we signed an arbitration agreement?
Courts do not always enforce these arbitration clauses. Whether one applies depends on who signed it, the authority that person had, and the state's law. Keep a copy of everything you signed and have a lawyer review it before assuming you cannot bring a claim.
How do I check a group home or ICF's inspection and complaint record?
Group homes are licensed and inspected mainly by state developmental-disabilities and health agencies; ICF/IIDs are also certified and inspected under federal CMS rules. Use the state agency's provider lookup for the state where the home is located, and ask the agency for inspection reports and substantiated complaints.
About Michael Hill Trial Law
Michael Hill Trial Law represents families in group home, ICF/IID, nursing home, and assisted living abuse and neglect cases. The firm’s main office is in Cleveland, Ohio; it practices across the country, its attorneys are licensed in numerous states, and it works with affiliate firms throughout the United States. The firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients, including a $26 million jury verdict for wrongful death, the highest nursing home verdict in Ohio history. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Learn more about group home and ICF/IID neglect cases, wrongful death, and physical and sexual assault, or meet our team.
Sources
Information on this page comes from government records, court filings, regulatory reports, company statements, and news reports, linked below. Lawsuits and criminal charges are allegations unless a court has ruled. Findings by state agencies may be subject to appeal.
- ProPublica - Lifespire, Inc. (EIN 13-2526022)
- New York State Comptroller - Lifespire audit 2016-S-2 (summary)
- New York State Comptroller - Lifespire audit 2016-S-2 (full PDF)
- Lifespire - executive leadership
- Lifespire - facts page
- CourtListener - Piggott v. Lifespire, Inc.
- CourtListener - Beckles v. Lifespire, Inc. (FLSA settlement)
This page provides general information about a company that operates group homes and intermediate care facilities. It is not legal advice and does not mean that any particular home or employee did anything wrong. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Last reviewed November 12, 2026.
