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LAUREL – A group of concerned citizens met again last week to rally around keeping a nursing home in the community, coming up with a new name for a non-profit and getting an update on how much money has been pledged for the cause.
About 40 people attended a public meeting last week dedicated to the cause and decided to move forward with forming a new non-profit entity called Cedar Haven of Laurel in the hopes of taking over the operations of the closing Hillcrest Care Center.
As of Monday morning, the group has collected more than $242,000 in pledges for a smooth transition with a goal of $1 million or more.
“These are devoted members of the community willing to do whatever they can to save the facility,” said Wendy Krie, former registered nurse at Hillcrest. “The only thing standing in the way is the mayor and this council. Everything else is lining up perfectly.”
After months of public turmoil, the Laurel City Council voted to close the city-owned Hillcrest Care Center with its last day set for Tuesday, May 13. The closure impacts 50 employees and 20 residents who resided in skilled nursing and assisted living. The facility is licensed for 36 nursing home residents and seven assisted living residents.
The license for Hillcrest Care Center was renewed Monday, City Administrator Dan Kuhlman told the Laurel Advocate Monday.
“I’ve been told that by this week sometime there will be four residents remaining in the facility,” he said.
He said there were no special city council meetings scheduled.
Krie told the Laurel Advocate after the meeting she has been working closely with Dan Taylor, licensing administrator at the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services.
According to Taylor, there is no need for residents to move - a new non-profit can come in and take over with residents still in place.
Once the new non-profit entity is established - as early as this week - a purchase agreement can be pursued with the city to get the ball rolling. Even if the purchase agreement isn’t officially signed, the state is open to starting the process with an intended date of change in ownership.
Taylor said, with the circumstances, the 30-day sale notice could be waived.
Ideally, the city would donate the building to the community to start the new non-profit nursing home, said Scott Rath, Laurel, who has been spearheading efforts to re-establish a local nursing home.
Or, perhaps, another agreement can be arranged such as a $25,000 annual payment for 25 years, a lease, or other terms.
Along with pledges turning into donations, the new non-profit will seek state and federal grants for a financial boost. Ongoing fundraisers will be a likelihood until the new non-profit nursing home becomes financially stable. Volunteers may need to perform some functions in housekeeping or activities to get by for the first few months.
The community has risen to the need in raising funds for other projects including the new community center, the fire hall, and ambulance, among others, so there’s no reason to think the community wouldn’t give to the cause, community members said.
“You’ve got to have faith. If it’s meant to happen, it will happen,” Rath said.
