99 Bristol nursing home residents to be displaced if proposed closure is approved
BRISTOL, Conn. (WTNH) — Residents at a Bristol nursing home had an opportunity to voice their frustrations to the state in a public hearing Thursday about the proposed closure of their home.
If approved, the closure would displace 99 residents.
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'I'm heartbroken because they don't want to leave,' said Katie Loughery, who has been a resident at the home since 2023.
Another resident, Billy Rose, said he thinks it's a terrible thing.
'I'm going to be leaving but I'd hate to see this place close … they're just friendly and wonderful,' Rose said.
In November, managing company Athena Health Care Systems sent a Certificate of Need and a Letter of Intent to the state's Department of Social Services to close the facility, citing a number of issues.
In a statement, Athena said:
'A combination of significant environmental factors, including ongoing staffing shortages, essential facility maintenance needs, and rising operational costs, have made it impossible to continue operating the center to be consistent with our high standards for care,' Athena said in a statement.
The staff at Sheriden Woods Health Care Center are dedicated professionals who over the center's history have provided exceptional care and service to our residents and their families with compassion, skill and unwavering commitment. Their contributions have been the heart and soul of this facility, and we are profoundly grateful for the efforts of both past and present employees. We are supporting our staff during this transition and are actively connecting them with resources to help them find new opportunities.'
During Thursday's hearing, Sheriden Woods Regional Administrator Carol Anne Salvetti said they've explored every possible option.
'We simply could not find a way to operate the building and its program sustainably going forward,' Salvetti said.
Not only would the move displace residents, but staff members would also be laid off. Lead Certified Nursing Assistant Valarie Bouchei has been working at the center for 37 years.
'They dropped a bomb on us. We didn't even know anything about it,' Bouchei said.
The proposed closure is a sign of the dire situation across the state. Currently, 87% of the nursing homes in Connecticut are occupied, according to SEIU 1199.
Jerry Gisondi said since learning about the proposal, he's applied to 12 nursing homes for his sister, Debbie. Gisondi said she hasn't been accepted into any of them yet.
'Where are these folks gonna go? There's no open beds. Where are these employees gonna go get a job? I feel the state is failing,' Gisondi said.
The Department of Social Services has not yet responded to the application to close the facility.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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