Workers, lawmakers and representatives from Athena attended a hearing Thursday morning on the possibility of the Sheriden Woods Health Care Centre closure.
Bristol, Connecticut – The Athena Nursing Home at Sheridan Woods Health Center in Bristol is on a permanent closure road, but many people are making sure that doesn't happen.
“It's heartbreaking,” said Katie Lary, a resident of Sheriden Woods.
Wilton Haws, who lives in the house, says he hates seeing this place close by and has to fight to keep it open.
“It's a great facility,” Haws said.
Many friendships have been formed at the facility, and this will be cherished forever.
“When I think about this place, the memory I think of is a sister who is brotherly love. If you're down, someone is there to cheer you up,” Hawes said.
Valarie Boucher, lead CNA at Sheriden Woods, made sure to come to work early to hear her voice.
“This is very, very, very important to me and my friends, to my colleagues, and it's mostly important to the residents because they don't want to scare them anymore.”
Related: Athena Nursing Home Closure Will Produce Over 400 Unemployment
Representatives from Athena Healthcare were there to let people know why they were closing.
They say they submitted a certificate of need to be closed through an assessment of the challenges they faced in maintaining operations.
“A combination of important environmental factors, including ongoing lack of staffing, essential facility maintenance needs and increased operating costs, has made it impossible for the centre to continue operating and to match our high standards,” they said.
Jerry Gissondi was told in November that he didn't have enough money to support the house.
“As far as I'm concerned, it's not really true, because all nursing homes in the state are experiencing the same problem, but they haven't closed. So why are you using it as an excuse? That's a falsehood to me,” Gisondi said.
He came to the house on Thursday and came for a hearing to find the real reason.
Residents like Loughery and workers like Boucher say they don't want to see this place go.
“It's scary about where they're going and how far they'll be away from their families. People can take Uber and buses to get here. If their families have to travel to Middletown or Meriden, it's going to be very difficult for them,” Loughery says.
Related: Athena filed files to close two nursing homes in Bristol and “assessing options” for the rest
Once the building closes, the family must find another place where they can take care of their loved ones.
“I can't take my sister and take her home. I can't take their loved ones and bring them home like many other people here can't. My sister needs to be in a nursing home, like so many others do,” Gisondi said.
Gisondi says his sister has moved twice in the past year and says he has to try again.
He says he's having a hard time finding a good place for her.
“We have contacted 12 nursing homes over the past month and a half. One bed is not available. She is on the waiting list,” Gisondi said.
Hawes and Loughery already have their homes in mind, but both hope that their homes will be saved.
“I don't think it's going to close. There are a lot of people who are willing to fight for people that many of us are willing to fight,” Haws said.
Athena says she is supporting staff during this transition and is actively linking it with resources to help them find new opportunities.
“Our residents and their families are our priorities. We are committed to providing individualized plans for all residents, ensuring they are placed in facilities that can be met with the same attention and respect they expect their needs,” Athena said in a statement.
This is not the first nursing home Athena wants to close in Bristol. The countryside mansion is scheduled to close on March 21st.
Gisondi said the state's healthcare industry is failing nursing home residents by being able to close facilities and not having enough beds available.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Connecticut has faced sleep deprivation in more than 3,000 nursing homes by 2035 and more than 9,000 nursing homes by 2045 if closures continue.
Instead of closing Sheriden Woods, Service Employees International Union recommends that states step in to maintain operations until a responsible buyer is identified.
The state Department of Human Services has a maximum of 90 days to review and determine the results of the Sheriden Woods Health Center Necessary Certificate.
Cayla Cade is a reporter for Fox61 News. She can be contacted at ccade@fox61.com Follow her on X and Instagram.
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