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Monroe Care Center to Remain Open

The residents and staff at the Monroe Care Center are feeling some relief and hope for future operations after the announcement Monday that the care center will likely be seeing a change in ownership in the next 60 days.

The commissioners’ office has seen large crowds in the past two weeks, sometimes spilling into the hallway outside, since announcing the intention to close the 166-year-old professional rehabilitation and nursing services provider. Staff members and family members of staff and residents have shown up to protest, to speak about how the center has benefited their loved ones by providing care at a location close-by, and to ask for more time for the center to operate and become self-sufficient again.

According to the Monroe County Commissioners’ office, the commissioners signed a letter of intent to purchase with Bryan Casey, president of Alternative Living Solutions for $500,000. The commissioners had rejected an offer of $250,000 from Casey last week, noting that the county had invested more than $6 million in the past several years in subsidizing and renovating the center after it lost its certification to treat Medicare and Medicaid patients in 2015. The center regained certification in 2017 and has earned a five-star rating by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

However, the commissioners had noted that the center had not yet become self-sufficient and the county would likely have to borrow money to keep it operating.

When the commissioners voted 2-to-1 to close the center weeks ago, they gave care center administrator Jessica Price time to find a buyer. On Monday, the commissioners accepted the $500,000 with a vote of 2-to-1, with Tim Price and Carl Davis voting in favor and Mick Schumacher opposed. The agreement is to be executed within 60-days. Schumacher was also the dissenting vote when the commissioners initially voted to close the center.

Price said she is waiting to meet with Casey.

“The only thing I know so far is it takes 60 days to close on the deal,” she said, adding that Casey has indicated he may retain the current staff.

“After that, he will be taking over,” she said. “Mr. Casey… has said that he is going to keep the staff, including myself. Of course I’ll need to meet with him to discuss expectations.”

Casey added that the atmosphere in the center has improved with the announcement that the center will likely continue operations.

“They are excited. They feel more at ease knowing they have a job and knowing their home’s not going to be gone,” she said. “They were very relieved. They got a good night’s sleep.”

She added that the 60-capacity center currently has a total of 45 residents in the population and the dementia section and the staff is close to 80.

Price had been unwilling to accept new staff or residents while the future of the center was in doubt, but the center is once again open to newcomers.

Casey said he sees many opportunities in the center.

“We’re excited about the fact that we’re able to keep the facility open for folks that live in Monroe County. Obviously excited about the fact that we’ll be able to retain the jobs. We’re excited about the opportunity to add some jobs,” he said, adding that he intended to expand services to provide home health care and hospice services for residents.

He said Alternative Living operates about 20 nursing and assisted living facilities across the state. This will be their first operation in Monroe County.

“I’m from a very similar area. I live in very rural Athens County,” Casey said.

Casey added that he hopes to complete the agreement in about one week and take ownership within 60 days. He added that the site may receive a name-change as well in the coming weeks, and people from the community are welcome to submit ideas.

The commissioners could not be reached for comment. According to office staff, the commissioners may meet again this week to review the prospective management agreement.

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