State says Emporia Rehab will close
Employees notified Tuesday morning
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
A Kansas Department on Aging official said this morning that a representative of the Emporia Rehabilitation Center told him she was completing paperwork to close the long-term care center at 221 W. Logan Ave.
“I called this morning and verified with the license administrator in that facility, and they are indeed closing. At that time, they were contacting KDOA,” said Gilbert Cruz, state long-term care ombudsman. “We’re already dispatching somebody tomorrow afternoon” to Emporia Rehab.
A call to National Health Investors Inc., in Murfreesboro, Tenn., had not yet been returned. NHI is listed as owner of Emporia Rehab on documents filed with KDOA. The date of the planned closing was not available.
Administrator Melinda Arb could not comment on the possible closing Tuesday afternoon, and said questions would need to be directed to another office, which did not return phone calls.
Word that Emporia Rehabilitation Center would close was spread on Tuesday morning, when employees apparently were told of the plans.
Greg Reser, acting commissioner of KDOA’s licensure certification and evaluation commission, said Tuesday afternoon that long-term care homes must notify the department of the intention to close and the planned closing date. Then, the care homes’ managers must go through certain procedures before the facilities can be closed.
“We send them a letter back that somewhat details the kinds of things they need to do,” Reser said.
Thirty-days notice must be given to all of the residents and their families.
“(A)nd they do need to assist the residents relocate, find other places,” he said. “They should be working with long-term care home ombudsmen’s offices.”
Gilbert Cruz of Topeka, state long-term care ombudsman, said that having an ombudsman advocate for the residents is a service provided at no charge. Services are finances by taxpayers, he said.
“So we don’t really have a dog in the fight,” Cruz said. “We don’t have any other angle than what the resident wants us to do for them. ... We’re the advocate for the residents; we’re not the advocate for the facility or the state.”
Cruz said that an ombudsman is to be dispatched Thursday to Emporia Rehab.
The ombudsman will meet with each resident to determine what needs to be done to help. If the resident is unable to meet with the ombudsman, he or she will meet with family members or a person who holds durable power of attorney for the resident.
“We want to know what the resident is feeling and what their wishes are,” Cruz said.
Later, the ombudsman will work with staff of the facility, as well as the resident’s doctor and, if needed, with staff in the receiving facility.
“Based on their care assessment, we would prepare a list that would give them an option of what the next available facilities that have that,” Cruz said.
An Alzheimer’s unit, for example, must meet special regulations for that service, so such units are not available at every care home.
“In those cases there might be some relocation that might be necessary,” Cruz said.
The ombudsman also will provide printed information about other options residents and their families or DPOAs may want to consider, such as home health or assisted living.
“So they have a fresh look at what their options are, and then they can choose from there,” he said.
Cruz said that people who have questions or need services of an ombudsman may call toll-free at 877-662-8362 or visit the Web site at www.kansasombudsmen.ks.gov
Comments
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
Posted by ConcernedVoter (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My prayers go out to the employees, and the residents and thier families. Suddenly being faced with relocating a loved one to another care home, or loss of a job, can add up to a real family crisis.
Posted by admireed (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tough to make a buck running an old folks home with all the rules and regs. Best whishes to those who have to move elsewhere
Posted by hartford (anonymous) on December 17, 2008 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My wife worked there not all that long ago. It is a good thing that they are closing. Not for the employees of course, but it needed to be closed a long time ago. Our old folks go to a home to get the best care that can be provided for them. This just wasn't the case here. My wife quit there because of all the the things they were doing wrong. She made a call to the state while she was working there to have state come in and investigate several things. Finally, my wife had no choice but to quit. It was either lose her R.N. license. or get out! The state will make sure the residents that may not have any family around, are placed in another care home or rehab center. I hope the employees will find work elsewhere. The hospital is always hiring good nurses. God bless all involved!
Posted by Cjay (anonymous) on December 18, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Until 2005 we beat obstacle to provide nice home for residents and had a nice working environment for employees. I am sad to hear what is happening. Many people from community provided service to ERC and summer time BBQ event was the highlighter event we all enjoyed with residents. I hope innocent residents find a nice home!
Post a comment
We allow registered users to post comments on this Web site. Our goal with this feature is to encourage thoughtful discussions about the news stories. Using the comment feature to make random attacks on people is not acceptable. Emporiagazette.com neither endorses nor guarantees the accuracy of any user contribution. Responsibility for what is posted or contributed to this site is the sole responsibility of each user. To learn more about our posting policies please read our User Poster Agreement Policy.
(Requires free registration.)