Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 3 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
Ashby nursing home closing
Published Thursday, May 8, 2008
Wednesday evening was a sad time for families of Pelican Lake Health Care Center residents who learned at an informational meeting why the nursing home will end operations on June 30.
Management said that the statewide move from institutional long-term care to home-like settings is a major reason the facility will close.
“The closing will be difficult for residents and staff alike,” said Shayla Henneberg, administrator for Pelican Lake Health Care Center which has been part of the community since 1957.
The facility, which housed 25 residents and employed close to 50 full-time and part-time employees, is owned by a non-profit organization, The Foundation of Rural Health Care of Burnsville. The foundation also owns a nursing home in Evansville.
The foundation is looking at various options in order to make use of the building in Ashby once the nursing home ceases operations.
Henneberg said that nursing home staff, in coordination with state and Grant County agencies, will work as a team to relocate the residents. The Workforce Center in Fergus Falls will assist staff members in their pursuit of new jobs.
“Three nursing homes in Grant County, including ours in Ashby, have all been downsized in recent years,” said Bonnie Davis, social services director at Pelican Lake Health Care Center. “Minnesota, in general, has been looking at assisted living as the preferred means of care for older residents. The mindset is changing within the long-term care community — including residents themselves.”
Davis said the closing on June 30 will be especially difficult for some residents of Pelican Lake Health Care Center who have lived at the nursing home for several years.
“Others who live here have been residents of the Ashby area most of their lives,” Davis said. “It’s very unsettling for staff and families who need to look at relocation options. We all, however, want to be optimistic and hope for the best.”
Another informational meeting for family members, and interested individuals, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the main level day room at Pelican Lake Health Care Center.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by horseygirl (anonymous) on May 8, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are a lot of people who have seen this coming for a long time. As someone who worked for these people for 4+ years, my feelings are this facility should have been shut down a long time ago, for a multitude of reasons. I feel very badly for the residents who will be uprooted and the people who will be losing their jobs. This facility has been blessed to have some wonderful, dedicated and caring employees working there. I don't appreciate that the state is being blamed entirely for the closing as there are those of us who know better. I hope some of the residents may be able to take advantage of the beautiful new assisted living facility to open soon. The facility would be lucky to employ some of the employees who will be losing their jobs.
Posted by jlynn (anonymous) on May 8, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad that Ashby won't have their nursing home anymore. When I first was in the Ashby nursing home (actually worked there when the kitchen used the dummie to deliver the food up from the kitchen. Benny had a room in the basement(the janitor). I worked with Lillian Hansel and also Mabel Anderson in the kitchen. Later worked as an aid there too.
My father (Raymond Sundblad) was in the home for about 8 years and he was content there. It was home to him. They had some good employees there.
. I wish them all the best of luck in finding new jobs.
GOD BLESS
Posted by lisakeele (anonymous) on May 9, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Do any of you remember the days when Sybil Donelen was the PLCC Director of Nurses? Roger Holtberg was our Administrator and the facility was full to capacity and year after year we were deficiency free when State came to visit. I will always remember those wonderful years, when Linda and I shared an office, it was a great place to work. Grandma "Missy" Iola is still there and rumor has it she looks fantastic, I'll bet the care is still great but the building itself is old and worn out. God Bless those of you who are taking care of grandma Iola, we love you all! Lisa Keele, Crystal Linder and Marshall Huseth.
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)