HUMBOLDT — Pinecrest Nursing Home is closing its doors. Staff, residents and family members were told this week they had 30 days to make other arrangements for extended care and employment.
A part of the Humboldt community since 1969, the facility has been struggling for the past 2½ years, according to administrator David Loos.
“We’ve been fighting low census numbers and with the bed tax and Medicare cuts, it’s too much to still maintain the care we expect to give our residents,” he said.
Loos stepped in as administrator in March 2009 and the facility has never had more than 30 residents, he said. The home could handle as many as 48. Currently there are 19 residents that will be placed in other facilities in the area and beyond. At one time Pinecrest specialized in Alzheimer care, but that unit was closed in 2008.
“My first thought, when I heard about it closing, was what is this going to do to my Mom,” Ava Marney said. “She has been in the hospital and to have to change environments, I just don’t know how she will handle it.”
Marney’s mother, Audrey Clifton, 99, has been a resident of Pinecrest since 2005 and is its oldest resident. Marney is a regular visitor and often helped with resident activities.
“They took such good care of Mom there and David (Loos) was so easy to work with,” Marney said. “He was good to the people.”
Pinecrest is owned by Altacare Corp., Alpharetta, Ga., which has managed it since 1996. Florida Senior Housing owns the building at 1020 E. Pine Street. There hasn’t been any discussion of selling the home that Loos knows of and efforts to sell it a few years ago fell through, he said.
The closure will affect 25 full-time and part-time employees, including Loos, who will move to Great Bend to be an administrator of a nursing home there.
“I was transferred some time ago,” Loos said, “but, I stayed to make the transition easier for the residents and the staff.”
Pinecrest will close for good Oct. 19, however Loos anticipates most residents will be placed before closing day. At least two residents had been placed by Wednesday and were in the process of moving. Records and files will be secured following the October closing.
“So far we have been able to place residents in the family’s first choice,” Loos said. “The nursing homes in the community have been huge in support. Those in Iola, Chanute and Moran have been cordial and outstanding to even ask about staff. They have helped make a good situation out of a bad situation.”
Pinecrest home closes after 42 years
