CALAIS, Maine — Mary Mayhew, Maine’s Health and Human Services commissioner, took delivery Thursday of a letter of appeal that challenges a proposal to close the 50-bed Atlantic Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Calais.
That letter was submitted by Calais Mayor Joseph Cassidy and is signed by 10 others.
Portland-based First Atlantic Healthcare, which owns the 39-year-old nursing home, told the Maine Department of Health and Human Services last April that it planned to mothball the Washington County facility as it makes plans to expand another facility it owns in Ellsworth and to build a new facility in Bucksport.
A DHHS certificate of need review panel recommended approval of the proposal last October, although Atlantic Rehab residents, staff and their families didn’t learn of the closure plan until late last month.
If the facility is closed, 96 workers will be out of a job, and the facility’s residents will be forced to relocate. Given the uncertainty of the situation, some residents already have moved, although families say finding new placements locally, or even regionally, has been a challenge as nursing home beds and assisted living services are scarce in rural Washington County.
In his letter, Cassidy asks Mayhew to consider the community impact of having to find new placements for the 32 Atlantic Rehab residents who remain at the facility.
“Closure of the home and the removal of these beds from Washington County will leave huge and unacceptable gaps in the care of our elderly citizens requiring nursing home care,” Cassidy wrote. “Those residents will be moved from familiar surroundings, family caregivers and [will be] sent to facilities that are significantly further away from their homes and families.”
The letter includes a statistical analysis of current nursing home bed availability in Washington County, which the numbers indicate is scarce.
“Residents that have already left Calais for other facilities have taken most of the available beds within Washington County,” Cassidy’s letter claims. “That leaves 32 residents with few options. We understand that First Atlantic has an obligation to place all their residents before closing, but we feel these placements, by virtue of time and distance their families will have to travel, will not be in their best interest.”
In January it was learned that First Atlantic was considering closing the facility on March 1. That news prompted Maine State Senate President Kevin Raye, who is a Washington County resident, to summon First Atlantic CEO Kenneth Bowden to Raye’s State House office for what turned out to be a three-hour meeting with members of Washington County’s legislative delegation. Subsequently, First Atlantic issued a press release that said closure of the facility is “not imminent.”
Raye said Friday he is distressed by how First Atlantic handled the matter, in not informing those affected in Calais of plans to close. “This is something First Atlantic has known about for at least a year,” Raye said. “The way this was handled, there was no opportunity for the community to respond and to look at ways to keep the facility open.”
“I find this situation both shocking and disappointing,” Raye said Friday. “It’s shocking in that a decision like this that is so devastating to the Calais community and the surrounding area can happen in utter secrecy. And it’s disappointing that [First Atlantic Healthcare] chose to approach it in that way, rather than reach out to local officials.”
Raye said there are ongoing discussions with the city of Calais, the local hospital and local legislators to explore strategies for keeping the facility’s doors open.
“There is a shared determination to do everything possible to determine the future of the facility, post-Atlantic,” he said. “Creating a nonprofit is one of many options. It’s an unusual approach, but it’s what happened back in the ’80s in Eastport when Eastport Memorial Hospital was closed. There was a locally driven effort to keep it open in the form of a nursing home.”
Raye said his legislative priorities now include revising the state’s certificate of need process so that communities impacted aren’t the last to learn about proposed changes that might affect local and regional quality of life.
“It’s shocking that the current [certificate of need] statute allows for a company to file a CON without notifying interested parties, the community and families in areas where beds could be removed,” he said. “My intention is to seek changes in that statute before this legislative session is over.”
Kevin Cowardly Raye
Cowardly? Say what you want about Kevin but he cares about people in Washington County. You must be a Michaud supporter. Mike’s a very nice guy, but he has the mental capacity to barely organize a bake sale.
First Atlantic Absolutly did notify the State of Maine, the lic. div. part of HHS. Its our own damn state department that did nothing. But not to worry, they already stated they did not break any laws. What a bunch of morons.
This must be part of LePages plan. Some of these poor folks will most likely have to move out of state due to lack of beds.
First Atlantic Absolutly should have notified the local nursing home, city and County. about the pending closure. They too are guilty of being a bunch of morons
First Atlantic and Paul LePage and his buddies have a motto. politics before people. Money, Money, Money and More Money. The heck with the people. Its all about the buck, (for themselves).
If your dompany downsizes and lets you go, is that LePage’s fault as well? Maybe if your dog doesn’t return home you can blame LePage, or if your licorice isn’t twisted enough. Geeeeesh
The care givers at Atlantic Rehab in Calais have worked hard to ensure that their residents get the best care possible. They have a pretty darned good group, who know their residents and their needs. This is a horiffic situation to those involved. From the employees to the residents.
Maybe now would be the time for Calais and the surrounding towns to unite and come up with the funds to build a regional Nursing home. The existing facility really needs to be torn down and started over again. From it’s flat roof that hasn’t really seen much maintenance since it was sold to Atlantic, to the poorly insulated cinder block walls. The present owners haven’t spent a lot, other than cosmetic work toward the upkeep that a facility like this needs.
There is plenty of vacant property in Calais that would fit the bill, with access to sewer and water. Maybe we could have a good old fashioned house raising by the local citizens. Build it with all local materials from local suppliers. The staff is already present and willing to work.
Kudos to President Raye for his strong reaction to this, it’s not a partisan issue at all. I would expect any responsible representative of their community to fight for the same. Imagine the panic of the clients, imagine the stress of the families, not even to mention the economically devastating result of the closure to the community. Now is not the time to blame and point fingers, but to stand tall and fix it!
Keep up the good work and know the people of this area are behind you. Thanks.
The building is in much need of repair. It’s a shame that it can’t remain open for a time and a new one built for the community.
http://lnk.co/IIFDQ
Don’t close the prison because then the poor inmates won’t be close to their families. Awwww. But to heck with the elderly and needy. Ship em off and be done with it. Some things should never be privatized because when the profits leave so will the company providing the service.
All the empty buildings around. This is an opportune time for the surrounding towns to come together and work towards crating another facility as the need is there and will continue to grow. The Calais Hospital, Eastport Healthcare, Machias Hospital – and others in the health care industry could meet to see what options/funding is out there.