Griswold nursing home seeks permission to close

By DEBORAH STRASZHEIM
Norwich Bulletin
Posted Jan 13, 2009 @ 11:01 AM
Griswold, Conn. —
A 90-bed nursing home in formerly run by Haven Healthcare, today filed a Letter of Intent with the Connecticut Department of Social Services to close, because of low occupancy and the need for millions in improvements. Griswold Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, located at 97 Preston Road, is now operated by Genesis HealthCare, which has been running the Jewett City center since last summer.
The center has 78 patients. Center residents and family members have been notified in accordance with state law.“The facility would require renovations estimated at several million dollars to continue in the future to assure compliance with state regulations, and to meet the safety and comfort requirements that residents and families expect,” Richard Blinn, President of Genesis HealthCare’s New England Region, said. Blinn continued, “We believe that the amount of money required to renovate the facility is better spent in these difficult economic times on direct care in other facilities, and that closing Griswold at this time is both appropriate and necessary.”
With the filing of the Letter of Intent, the center will cease admissions, Blinn said. Blinn also said that there is adequate bed capacity in the surrounding communities to assure care for all 78 current residents. The center will not relocate residents until the State approves closing of the facility. However, the center expects residents and families may request relocations to other area nursing homes on their own initiative.