CALAIS, Maine — There remain many more questions than answers for the staff, residents and families of the 52-bed Atlantic Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, but it appears the 39-year-old nursing home in Calais may soon be closed.
Calais City Manager Diane Barnes confirmed Tuesday that the facility may be mothballed, but refused any further comment. Among the facility’s 42 current residents who would be displaced by a closure is Barnes’ mother-in-law.
Closure of the local landmark will affect 92 workers, including nurses who work at the facility under a contract the Teamsters negotiated with Portland-based First Atlantic Healthcare. Calls made Tuesday afternoon to CEO Kenneth Bowden for comment on the closure went unreturned.
In a press release issued from Portland after those calls were placed, John Wood, the Calais facility’s administrator said “no closing is imminent.” Wood said he and others involved have been meeting with members of Washington County’s political delegation to explore ways of avoiding closure. Those discussions continue, Wood said, “but obviously time is of the essence.”
One facility staffer, who asked not to be named, said First Atlantic Healthcare issued orders about six weeks ago to stop accepting new patients and residents. No reason was tendered, the source said, and six applicants have been turned away since then.
What’s to become of the residents for whom the facility is now home remains another unknown. In a letter sent to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services last spring, Bowden told Phyllis Powell, the manager of the state’s certificate of need program, that the company planned to close the Calais facility and enlarge the Collier’s Nursing and Rehabilitation Center it owns in Ellsworth.
“We believe there is capacity within the Calais region to accommodate these patients as our [nursing facility] operations in Calais phase out,” the letter to Powell reads in part. The letter said expansion of the Ellsworth facility would require 16 months of construction and would cost an estimated $8.5 million. Ground has yet to be broken on that project.
“Once completed, we plan to relocate residents now living at Atlantic Rehab and Nursing to the newly renovated facility if they choose or into surrounding facilities, including Marshall’s Healthcare in Machias,” Bowden said in his letter to Powell, an apparent reference to Marshall Healthcare and Rehabilitation.
In a Nov. 17, 2011, analysis prepared by Powell and two state senior health care financial analysts, the proposal put forth by Bowden in May was recommended for approval, showing a construction cost estimate of $9.2 million.
An abstract of the First Atlantic application also indicates the company wants to build a new facility in Bucksport “of a similar size and scope of services” to the expanded Collier’s facility in Ellsworth. The replacement facility in Ellsworth, the company said, will include 16 nursing facility beds, 30 residential care level IV beds and 10 assisted living apartments.
Wood said it’s understandable that some staff, residents and family feel they have been left out of the loop as First Atlantic developed its plans to phase Atlantic Rehab out of use.
“I think that’s true,” he said.
Why was there so little communication between corporate headquarters in Portland and clients and staff in Calais?
“I don’t know,” Wood said.
Wood said he believes, given his understanding of the needs of the Calais region’s elderly population that there is sufficient local capacity to relocate Atlantic Rehab patients and residents close to home.
One Atlantic Rehab staffer said Tuesday that families are already beginning the process of finding new care and residential options given the cloud of uncertainty under which the facility is now being operated.
What a shame for Washington County. Many families will be without health insurnace coverage and a small income. Many families will be further from their loved ones.
Maybe someone could come up with a plan to buy the nursing home and operate it.
So goes the story,,,the elderly people of Calais again take it on the chin….Heres your ticket to Ellsworth..
By the time our incompetent governor is done, it probably would have been forced to close anyway.
Sad.
Sad is when the uninformed make fearmonging claims
uninformed is a littlle too polite…that gal is done been brainwashed, ayuh
Have you not been reading lately? Your “shoot the messenger” comment makes me think you haven’t been hearing about Lepage’s threats. Ah well, carry on, with your head in the sand.
Sad is what you will be when one of your beloved family members needs this kind of care and the current state administration has made sure there are no such places available. To LePenguin and the MHPC, the old are worthless and expendable. What they contributed during their working lives has no meaning … how sad!
well in this situation its a combination of things…not just a Governor. These facilities cant help the new reforms done to our healthcare. HOWEVER, they can offer more service in communicating the needs, concerns, & coming events to those people working there, living there, and the Family members of Residents in that facility so they can Make plans. If this place closes down..not only will people have to relocate family BUT also this equals Jobs Lost (unless they plan on moving employees from that facility to the new one as well..which wont work for everyone). Its a showing of the times we’re living in.
This has nothing to do w/the governor and everything to do with the company that owns and operates the facility.
…and a smidge of union on the side…
Ok, so what about their family that cannot afford transportation to visit them so readily? Do they expect the family members of these Calais Residents to move as well?! You can tell by the article it was done on the sly, not letting the people KNOW about the transition that was in store in the near future. It rather makes it awkward and not enough time for family members to find new places of residence for their Family members if need be. This is blackballing them & Forcing them to move their loved ones to Ellsworth due to NOT enough options available to them at that time. They KNOW full well what they’re doing. They’re ensuring they cut their loses & Keep the Money in their pocket. The lack of Communication is proof of that.
Welcome to the world of Governor LePage. This is ony the beginning.
blaming the governor is silly, federal cuts are a big factor, blaming obama is silly – we are in tough economic times and revenue is down. These facilities depend on government funding to some extent , they are also in it for a profit I suppose pond lady in your world everything is free, or you dont mind paying higher taxes
No, nothing in my world is free. I’ve worked since I was 15 years old and earned everything I have in this world. I’mnow retired and still working part-time. I am comfortable, but I believe it is wrong to do what he is doing when he exempts the poor little rich kid who has not worked a day in his life from paying taxes on his inheritance. I resent the lies and made up numbers of this admnistration and I’m tired of him creating crisis to get his way. I can blame the Covernor because he is a bully and an embarrassment to this wonderful state I live in. Can’t wait for him to move back to his home in Florida.
just remember politicians are basically the same just in different styles and hoppers, the devil you know versus the devil you don’t.
The worse are the ones who seek to control people and power, for our safety , for our protection – ex lawyers, cops .
Then there are the fiscally liberal and conservative
The morally liberal and conservative
The tax structure liberal and conservative
Get real…welcome to the world of all politicians L&R…LOL
As much as I dislike LePage, I just don’t see what he had to do with it. His plans will wind up closing more places like this, but this particular closing sounds more like a solely corporate decision. I feel bad for the clients, staff and families, but I just don’t see where this one can be laid in Penguins lap… wait, do penguins even have laps?
I could be wrong…and I’m sure someone will correct me if I am, but I think the poster meant this is the type of thing that what will happen in the very near future should LePage get his way. Just a guess, but thats how I took its meaning.
I don’t think you know the meaning of blackballing . . . just sayin’ . . .
Well if you’re going to call her out, give the definition with your response oh wise one.
Everyone else knew what she meant so whether she used the word correctly or not is irrelavant.
BTW, to “blackball” also means to “shut out a group from social or commercial participation; or to “ostracize”
Since growing old and frail has now been outlawed… there clearly is no reason for such a facility! 8^(
I’m not looking forward to it, BUT my mother in law will eventually be moving in with us………I will deal with it because she is family.
How’d those Teamsters work out for you Calais?
what the heck does that mean?? Hope your not saying it is because the “union” the business has decided to close this place down?
too expensive .. wait till obamacare hits
Do you honestly think that the Teamsters helped things? They are corrupt, under federal investigation and could not care less about Calais, as long as they get paid.
The reason the union gained entry into the nursing home was because of the working conditions at that facility. They had a lousy administrator who liked to work the fear factor and when his current girlfriend needed a job he didn’t hesitate to fire a faithful employee.
To be honest, I believe you. The Teamsters are a corrupt organization. They promise the world, but take your money. My guess is that the management of Rehab sucks, but most Unions don’t help much either.
Any union is only as good as it’s membership. The current administration at Atlantic Rehab is pretty good and well respected by the employees. The union got in when it was under the previous owner who let his administrator run it like a dictator. It is hard enough for people to work in a nursing home to begin with as you can tell by the constant ads for CNA’s in virtually every nursing home in the state. Brutal work, physically and emotionally.
How crude!!!!!
Why is it crude? Are you saying that an organization who’s history is steeped in extortion, murder, theft and federal corruption investigations is the appropriate representative agency for Calais? The Teamsters taint everything they touch. There are one or two good unions out there, the rest are in it to get rich and could care less about the individual employee.
if the union is making it difficult and has added cost and the elleswroth location doesnt have union representation that very well could be a factor
That’s an ignorant thing to say. Don’t you have any compassion for the residents and the emplyees?
Why is it ignorant? Are you saying that an organization who’s history is steeped in extortion, murder, theft and federal corruption investigations is the appropriate representative agency for Calais? The Teamsters taint everything they touch. There are one or two good unions out there, the rest are in it to get rich and could care less about the individual employee.
They have $8.5 million they are going to use to add to the Ellsworth facility and then they are going to relocate the Calais residents to Ellsworth if they so choose. That means 90 Calais people out of jobs, and family of residents won’t be able to visit as often. I wonder why they can’t use the money to build a new facility in Calais?
That stinks. When you’re old and frail you want to be close to familiar people and places—not miles away in Machias or even more miles away in Ellsworth.
I cant believe that place is still open. I was there in the 70’s visiting family and it was nice then. To bad they are closing. Be nice if a new facility was built
The worst part of this is that First Atlantic is not being upfront and honest with the residents, families and staff of this facility. This is so sneaky and dishonest! In the least, these people deserve the truth! They are playing with people’s loved ones and livelyhoods. First Atlantic, YOU DO NOT HAVE THAT RIGHT!
As an employee at the Atlantic Rehab and Nursing Center I am disgusted by the actions (or lack there of) of John Wood and First Atlantic Corp. They have known about this for along time and they never mentioned anything. We only found out because one of our co workers stumbled across a letter online. We havent been told anything definite on our future or the future of our elderly residents. The possibility that we may just drop to a 40 bed facility was rumored the same day that we heard we were closing our doors for good March 1st. We have no clear answer and many of our residents have family who cant afford to travel to visit so people are rushing to find placements close to home. We are all faced with a choice do we stay and hope to have a job and a place for our loved ones to live or do we start looking for new jobs and a place for them to go? First Atlantic has no idea the impact this will have on our community- we employ 92 people who without a job will not be able to spend money locally, the cna students from local schools do their clinicals at our facility, local pharmacies, physical therapists and doctors all service our facility and the list goes on. Calais is already suffering economically, hopefully someone will step in and care enough to save us.
This is a shame! The lack of communication, the lack of care and compassion – not only for the residents but also the staff is a disgrace. Where is the gov’t in all this?? Do they even care??
I would hope that someone will step up to the plate and help these people out – 90+ jobs and the ripple effect this will have on Calais will be devistating to the community~!
Well written comments- as a former nurse who has worked in several rural long- term care facilities,I was appalled by this article,and the seemingly callous nature of the company to displace all these residents. Once again,it comes down to the bottom line,money,not people. I hope something can be done to save this facility,but from what you say,the handwriting is on the wall. I HATE it when the ‘ powers that be’ pull that crap behind your back and act innocent!! Best wishes and prayers for the residents and community…
Yikes – Washington County cannot afford to lose 100 jobs.
WHAT!? There are enough beds in Washington County to house these people?! I’m am quite familiar with the bed status at nursing facilities in Washington county and I have to disagree. Furthermore, the closest facility is approx 25 miles away. Sorry, but a facility in Ellsworth is FAR FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY! My heart goes out to the families of all involved but also to the great workers at the facility, I’ve seen the care some of them provide. What a great loss to our community! I sure hope something can be done to save this facility, as it is very MUCH NEEDED.
The Bottom Line : Operate at a loss, doors will close. I have not seen the books, but can only assume it was not profitable?
This is likely the issue, The.
Not profitable ENOUGH, no doubt!
Ah, another union success story…..
fool
Hardly a union-caused event when you consider that Ellsworth will be adding a considerable number of union represented employees to its facility after the expansion.
Ah, another brilliant comment pulled directly from your colon.
LOL
Note the reference to “surrounding facilities.” Do this company and the regulators governing/guiding their actions somehow imagine that Calais and Ellsworth are somehow surrounding communities?
The value to those in the home in Calais and their families of being within a twenty-mile trip versus one of ninety or so is inestimable. Any company can make the case to open or close its doors as it sees fit. But it serves its case poorly if it chooses to micturate in my eye while telling me that it’s merely raining.
Remember, Scott, to those in Augusta and south of there, central, northern and eastern Maine are just “out there, somewhere” …
Health care is about the only growth industry in the nation and it is failing in Maine. That imo says a lot about the problems the Maine economy and its citizens face. And there won’t be any support from LePage on this because it fits into his agenda.
My heart goes out to families & staff alike.
Please help these people find a solution and avoid displacing the residents…what a shame, so sad.
Get used to this cause it will be happening all around Maine if Lapage gets his way!!! In his speach last night he lied about everything and he even used some of Obama’s speach from last year.. I thought it was rather funny and entertaining all the lies that poured out of his mouth.. Save jobs lol he has done nothing but killed off so many jobs.. Protect our children and educate them, lol he wants to kill schools off in may if he don’t get that budget passed.. Protect our elderly, lol like he has in this article right? Liepage!!!!
Did we watch the same State of the Union Address? Because if we did, you apparently did not understand what was being said. . . .
Calais you lose. Ellsworth you win. Politics at it’s finest!
Can you really be blindsided by something closing in Calais? The reality is, you should be blindsided when something opens or stays open in Calais.
Pondlady wrote “Welcome to the world of Governor LePage. This is ony the beginning.”
Are you serious? I mean really. Obviously First Atlantic Healthcare isn’t generating an acceptable profit from the facility. If they were, there would be no reason to close. This facility and many others like it have suffered decreasing revenues for years and to lay the blame on Lepage is just ignorant.
just another ‘nail in the coffin’ to show the lack of health care here in downeast Washington County……..what’s a retired person to do???????
MOVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The GOP wants you to die. No SS claims, no medicare, no nothing. You’re done supporting the 1% and not needed anymore.
I am not surprised at all about this closure. Calais and Washington County are an economic Dead Zone. You think it is bad now, wait till LePig starts to cut all health care aid to the Poor in Maine. First Atlantic is just anticipating LePig’s cuts and wants to get ahead of the expected financial shortfall.
52 Homeless elderly and 92 more jobs lost ….This should make Gov LePage really happy. You will be seeing lots more of this all over Maine soon. Keep voting Republican and maybe we can ALL be homeless soon !
Yep, more “paulitics” as usual.
Dude…you are all wrong. Again, you need to get your facts straight instead of pointing fingers at LaPage.
As alluded to by some commenters, nursing homes are in financial trouble due to stagnant payments for State Medicaid (MaineCare) clients for the past 10-12 years. They have received on average maybe half of inflation during that time. It has gone largely unnoticed thus far due to generous payments by the Federal Medicare progam that pays for rehab services at these facilities. However, Medicare reduced it’s payments by 13% last October and nursing homes all over the USA are scrambling to make ends meet. What’s happening in Calais will be happening all over the USA . Gov. Lapage is doing the best he can to get Maine’s economy moving again. Part of that is taking the welfare away from the able-bodied young adults so he has something to continue paying the nursing homes, otherwise, the whole welfare system goes broke this coming April. The economic boom created by Washington raiding the Social Security fund over the last 35 years is over and we are now at a pay-as-you-go place. Unfortunately, too many people have been spoiled over the last 35 years and they don’t like the new reality. It’s not pretty, but it is here to stay. Time to adjust accordingly.
Bottom line here,,,Whats our COUNTY POLITICIANS going to do for the Elderly people in Calais..This is a election year Ya know…
The Washington County Politicians have done nothing for Washington County the past 50 years. Keep voting Republican and supporting the 1 % and you will be living in your car if you have one or the homeless shelter in Bangor if you can afford a bus ticket.
Actually, the WCP did in fact meet yesterday with them for 3 hours and it was broadcast on WQDY yesterday. You know… sometimes I have to ask people that make statements about other people not doing anything for the area… what exactly have you done?
There was a press on WQDY yesterday afternoon announcing that the county politicians had in fact met with the CEO of Atlantic in Augusta for 3 hours, and he has stated that no move is imminent. Let’s hope he keeps his word…
I don’t understand what all of you want the gov’t to do about this? My mother works there..The article is spot on accurate..however being the realist that I am, look at it like this First Atlantic is a business, a PRIVATE, FOR PROFIT business. If i am a business man and i am loosing money in location A (calais) and i can close up shop there and move to location B and make more money doing so than what on earth is going to stop me from doing that?
All I am trying to say is if a politician came to me as the CEO of this company and said you cant move out of calais I would most likely tell them how it is and move on with expanding my company..
All you people relying on the gov’t…the idea of the gov’t was originally intended to be as a safety barrier and a catch net if needed.. let business’s be business’s..stay out of it State of Maine.
Blame LePage as he changed the regulations and rules of the Certificate of Need Program so they don’t get to look at what they use to. Less regulations he wanted. Glad you voted for hin now?
Blame La Page for everything don’t you? Is he responsible for the next storm that is coming? Get real!
Atlantic Rehab In Calais To Stay Open For Now…. – Jan. 24, 2012
Calais, ME — Amid rumors that Atlantic Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Calais will close its doors due to declining census and resulting economic instability, John Wood, Atlantic Rehabilitation’s Administrator said “no closing is imminent.”
WQDY NEWS PHOTO
The once 100-bed facility has seen dramatic declines in census over the years and operates today with only 40-percent of its original capacity. Wood cited the following reasons for the occupancy declines, “In 1994 the state changed its medical need standards, which created more options for assisted living and resulted in fewer individuals qualifying for nursing facility care. Also, we have seen a decline in our Medicare census, meaning the facility has to rely on insufficient MaineCare payments to support its costs.”
With its financial difficulties in mind, the representatives of the center and the Washington County delegation met to discuss what might be done to avoid closure. Both the delegation and the center reported constructive conversation.
No timeline has been established for the discussions but obviously time is of the essence said Wood.
Atlantic Rehab has been providing quality long term care services to the residents of Calais and the surrounding towns in Washington County for many years. Facility management remains committed to ensuring quality services for its residents as solutions are sought.
Responding to our request for comment, Senate President Kevin Raye told WQDY NEWS via e-mail late Tuesday afternoon that “the Washington County Delegation learned of this situation yesterday and met for three hours in my office at the State House with First Atlantic CEO Ken Bowden.”
“We impressed upon him in passionate terms how critically important their Calais facility is to its residents, their families and the dedicated employees who provide their care. We appealed to him to allow time for options to be fully explored in an effort to ensure that this vital care continues to be offered in Calais over the long term,” Sen. Raye wrote.
“The residents of the home are foremost in our minds. It would be tragic for them, and for the loved ones who spend time with them, if anyone were to be displaced. The entire delegation wants to be sure we leave no stone unturned to prevent that from happening.”
Raye said that Mr. Bowden indicated that the declining number of patients, which once numbered 100, but now are less than 40, has severely challenged the economics of the nursing home.
“Today, more elderly residents receive in-home services that allow them to stay in their own homes, and others live in assisted-living facilities that do not offer the level of medical care provided in nursing homes, and Medicare-reimbursed rehabilitative services are available in hospital settings. Together with low Medicaid reimbursements, these factors are challenging nursing homes, particularly those in areas with a high percentage of MaineCare-eligible patients.”
Raye said at the conclusion of their meeting, “Mr. Bowden assured us that a closure is not imminent, and that he will work with us to explore options to keep that from happening.”
Also present at the meeting were Reps. Joyce Maker, David Burns, Howard McFadden, Beth Turner and Passamaquoddy Tribal Rep. Madonna Soctomah.
STORY: Tom McLaughlin WQDY-WALZ news@wqdy.fm
What a shame when Washington County has such high unemployment….the governor should be asking why we cant update Calais facilities and not move work to Hancock county….this is disgusting….