ST. LOUIS — Residents and employees at Northview Village Nursing Home in north St. Louis took the last of their belongings out of the facility on Saturday.
The facility has abruptly closed its doors, leaving around 170 residents displaced and employees uncertain about their future. The sudden shutdown has not only disrupted the lives of the senior citizens who called the facility home but has also left staff members without pay just as the holiday season begins.
Angela Hendeson, who has dedicated 40 years of her life to working there, expressed the dire situation faced by both residents and employees.
"People don't know how they are going to eat. How they are going to pay their bills or anything?" Henderson said.
The closure unfolded with residents being forced out on a Friday night, seemingly without any prior explanation. Many of the elderly individuals residing at the facility had no family members available to assist in the relocation process, compounding the distressing situation, according to staff.
Michele Waller, a receptionist at the nursing home for the past five years, revealed details about the owner's knowledge of the impending closure.
"From my understanding, they say he had known this for weeks already, probably months— Mark Suissa, the owner of the building," Waller said.
Efforts to contact the administrator were unsuccessful, with 5 On Your Side attempting to reach out via phone, email, and in person, only to find the administrator absent. The lack of communication from the management has added to the frustration and uncertainty surrounding the closure.
A letter obtained by 5 On Your Side, sent internally to staff by Healthcare Accounting Services, shed some light on the financial aspect of the crisis.
The letter stated, "Due to the timing of this facility's collections, it was the responsibility of the partners to fund the payroll."
Despite this assertion, it remains unclear whether the owner, Suissa, will fulfill his obligation to pay the staff.
Here is the full letter:
Suissa reportedly owns multiple nursing homes throughout the metro region.
As the displaced residents and staff members grapple with an uncertain future, one staff member voiced the need to move forward.
"New job— that's all I can do. Just pick up and move on. As long as all the residents got out, that's good," Waller said.
Henderson, on the other hand, expressed reliance on faith, saying, "I just don't know. I'm just going to pull on God. That's all I could do."
The abrupt closure of Northview Village Nursing Home raises serious questions about the responsibilities of facility owners, the welfare of residents in senior living facilities, and the rights of employees who find themselves without pay and employment during the holiday season.
The situation serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within the senior care system and the need for increased oversight to prevent such crises in the future.
Here is a statement from a spokesperson at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which regulates the nursing home:
"Our (DHSS) Section for Long-Term Care Regulation regulates this facility. They became aware of the situation yesterday and were in touch with the administrator. Our regional team worked through the night to ensure the approximate 170 residents were cared for and safely relocated. The last resident left the facility just before 6 a.m. today. Today [Saturday], our team is following up with the facilities to check in on the residents who were transferred."