State reviewing nursing home Wareham Healthcare's closure plan

Apr. 24—WAREHAM — The state Dept. of Public Health is evaluating nursing home Wareham Healthcare's closure plan, which is targeted for July 28.

The DPH can OK the plan or comment on it. Wareham Healthcare would have 14 days to respond to any DPH comments. The DPH has 14 days from a zoom public hearing held April 21 to approve or issue comments.

Wareham Healthcare's closure plan includes working with other care facilities in the area to provide placements for the residents. "Wareham Healthcare and Next Step (owner Next Step Healthcare LLC) will work with the residents and their families to identify appropriate placements for all residents in a facility capable of meeting all of their needs, including the consideration of the resident's and family's choice of facility."

Wareham Healthcare, located at 50 Indian Neck Road, issued a notice of its intent to close on March 30. It has a capacity of 175.

Wareham Healthcare began leasing and operating the facility on Dec. 1, 2017. The lease has since run out and the landlord has declined to renew it or sell the facility to Wareham Healthcare, according the company.

MassHealth issued initial termination notices to three private nursing homes in the state in August 2020, including Wareham Healthcare.

According to MassHealth, they "failed to meet the standards and requirements of the MassHealth program during the COVID-19 crisis and have a historic record of poor performance."

According to a MassHealth press release from Aug. 3, 2020, during the pandemic, the three facilities sent notices had: — Demonstrated poor adherence to the most basic infection control practices during quality and infection control audits and assessments, such as failure to properly cohort COVID-positive residents and improper use of PPE, — Had inadequate staffing ratios that jeopardized the health, safety and welfare of residents, and — In certain cases, refused support offered by the state when dealing with substantial outbreaks and critical staffing shortages, underscoring a lack of management and judgment.

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