Elderwood in danger: $2.5M needed or the nursing home closes, officials say

Apr. 12—NORTH CREEK — Elderwood at North Creek, a skilled nursing, long-term care and rehab facility, which has served the North Country for 50 years is in danger of having to close its doors if it does not receive an estimated $2.5 million in state funding, officials said Thursday April 11.

Primarily, the facility is funded through Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, but since 2019 it has relied on short-term funding through the New York Department of Health's Vital Access Provider (VAP) program.

"The program is intended to be just a bridge to get to your long-term care sustainability," explained Heidi Schempp, administrator at Elderwood during the press meeting. "We met all of our goals, and then COVID hit. That really hurt us."

As with many facilities across the country, Elderwood's long-term planning was dashed by the onset of the pandemic. When, finally, the veil of the virus had lifted, the facility found itself almost back to square one. Needing to once again apply for the supplemental funding, she added.

"In 2022 we applied for another grant with a multi-year transformation plan," Schempp said. "We have hit all of our interim targets, and we've even acceded those. Unfortunately we only received the funding for one year."

In February, the facility applied once again for the VAP funding, but thus far has received no word on whether that money will come through. Instead it has had to limp along on what it can squeeze from Medicare and Medicaid.

"We are severely underfunded for Medicaid, there's a lot going on in the legislation with that for changes," Schempp said.

While the nursing home waits either for something to break at the legislature to unlock more funding from Medicaid, or the DOH to come through with the VAP funding, Schempp said they've had to start preparing for the worst case scenario.

"We are not closing, but we have submitted a draft closing plan to the Department of Health," she said. "We are working with the Department of Health in hopes that, that does not happen. Our goal is to not close."

The DOH has not accepted, or approved the facilities closure plan, which is a necessary step before the process would begin. But as part of those preparations, Schempp said she and the staff has had to inform the residents and their families of the potential closure.

DOH did not return requests for comment on this story.

"They're scared, quite frankly," she said. "We're talking now. It's not a long term thing."

In addition to long-term care, Elderwood offers out-patient rehab, and end-of-life care.

82 Beds, 98 employees

The 82-bed facility is currently housing 57 residents who, if closure occurs, would need to find another place to go.

"There are not 57 open Warren County beds," Schempp said. "Our residents would potentially have to leave the county all together."

"They built this community. They pay their taxes here," added Breann Parker, director of nursing at the facility. "They deserve to have a home and feel secure."

With 98 employees, Schempp said Elderwood is the largest year-round employer in the area.

"More than 80% of our staff are Warren County residents and surrounding communities," she said. "And we have to fight for them. That's what we have to do."

Amber Shenke, assistant director of nursing has been with the facility for one year, but in that time, she said she's taken great pride in working with the residents and patients, as well as other staff to make Elderwood a four-star facility, "which is very hard to get to," Shenke said. "I've learned a lot and I want to keep doing that. I want to keep making changes here."

Johnsburg Town Supervisor Kevin Bean said he feels stymied by the situation.

He applauded the work of Sen. Dan Stec, R-Queensbury, and Assembly member Matt Simpson, R-Horicon, for their work trying to secure a long-term funding increase through Medicaid reimbursement at the legislative level, but implored Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Department of Health for the stopgap funding needed to see the facility through until it can engage its long-term sustainability plan.

"One request to Gov. Hochul. We need this $2.5 million dollars," Bean said. "Please, please provide it."

The town board will take up this issue at its meeting Tuesday, April 16. Bean said too many rumors about what is happening are swirling, and he hopes to tamp some of them down.

For now, the issue seems to be one at the state level. The regulations and funding come from state and federal agencies. Still Warren County officials say they are monitoring the situation.

"County leaders want to ensure that residents of the home are well taken care of and are placed at appropriate facilities should an unfortunate closure occur at Elderwood," said Warren County Administrator John Taflan, adding that the office of workforce development is ready to assist with employment transitions if needed.

Assembly member Simpson said in a statement that the governor and legislature needed to prioritize health care for older residents.

"Elderwood has provided vital care to our seniors for years. The closure of this facility would not only disrupt the lives of its residents and staff but also jeopardize the health and well-being of our seniors," he said.

"We have the community support, the support that we have gained, they need to voice that to Governor Hochul's office. It's where it needs to go, she needs to hear what's going on here," Parker added.

Members of the Elderwood staff will attend the regular Jouhnsburg Town Board meeting at 7 p.m. on April 16, located at Tannery Pond, 228 Main St., North Creek.

"The rumor mill has gotten out of hand," Bean said. "We're just trying to make sure that this place stays open, that's it. Nothing more, nothing less. If this place gets their VAP grant, I will sleep. I will actually get a decent night's sleep."

Alex Portal is a staff writer who covers northern Saratoga County and Hadley/Luzerne. History and Environment are his beats. Contact: 518-742-3274, aportal@poststar.com.

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