ST. LOUIS — The operator of a St. Louis nursing home should be held accountable after the facility was abruptly closed, sending 170 residents to other care centers with no more than the clothes on their backs, political leaders and former workers said during a rally Tuesday.
Northview Village Nursing Home shut down on Friday and shuttle buses transported residents to about 14 St. Louis-area care centers. Days later, some relatives said they hadn't found out where their loved ones were sent.
One manager said the former residents arrived at her nursing home without records or medication lists.
Some of those who spoke at the rally outside the shuttered nursing home said criminal investigations should be considered. St. Louis Alderwoman Sharon Tyus called for aldermanic hearings and said she has spoken to the circuit attorney about the possibility of an investigation.
Tyus also vowed to give $5,000 to employees and work to set up a fund for them.
Mayor Tishaura Jones said she was appalled by the way residents and workers were treated. About 180 people lost their jobs and still haven't received their last paycheck.
“Are you angry? Because I'm mad as hell,” Jones said.
Northview Village is St. Louis' largest nursing home. It is operated by suburban St. Louis-based Healthcare Accounting Services.
"Northview is a part of Healthcare Accounting Services and under the umbrella of ownership of Mr. Mark Suissa, this particular facility is also owned by other partners," according to an internal memo obtained by 5 On Your Side.
Healthcare Accounting Services told 5 On Your Side the company declined to comment and said it's in their attorney's hands.
Two democratic state senators from St. Louis, Karla May and Steven Roberts, said they've reached out to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to ensure employees are paid and residents' rights are protected.
“We cannot put corporate greed over people,” May said.
May said she's asking the state for a possible emergency fund and to look into the other facilities operated by the same owners.
The process of moving people out of Northview Village began after 4 p.m. Friday and continued into Saturday morning, said Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the state health department.
Marjorie Moore, executive director of VOYCE, a St. Louis agency that serves as an ombudsman for long-term care residents and their families, said her agency continues to connect some displaced residents with their relatives.
Northview Village has been fined 12 times for federal violations since March 2021, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Fines totaled more than $140,000 and ranged from $2,200 to more than $45,000. The federal agency gives Northview a one-star rating out of a possible five but doesn’t provide a reason.
Many of the nursing home's residents are on Medicaid, and some have behavioral problems. Moore said that despite its troubled past, the nursing home has served as a “safety net” for poor and hard-to-place residents.
Hiedi Haywood, a certified medical technician at Northview Village, said residents were distraught as the center closed. Workers, some of whom have spent decades there, said they were also upset.
Haywood said many of the former residents live paycheck-to-paycheck.
“It's more than Christmas,” Haywood, a mother of six said of the timing of the closure. “I don't want to be on the street.”
Caroline Hawthorn was a registered nurse at Northview Village, and her aunt was a resident.
“This is real-life stuff. Where is the compassion? Where is the care?” she asked.
Following the rally, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) invited workers to their union hall to meet with several departments to go over benefits and unemployment.
Additional help
- If you are unable to contact family, you can reach the State Division of Regulation and Licensure at 1-800-392-0210 or the State Ombudsman office at 1-(800) 309-3282.
- The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) is offering two emergency job fairs on Dec. 22 and Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., located at 1520 Market St, 1st Floor Conference Room, St. Louis, MO 63103.
- Confirmed employers participating in these fairs include A.O.S., Avalon Gardens, BJC, City of St. Louis Department Of Health, City of St. Louis Department Of Personnel, DelHaven, SLPS, Smiley Manor, UCity Forest Manor, and Union Mano.
- In addition to these hiring events, SLATE offers comprehensive support through job search workshops, assessments, and training opportunities. For more information, click here.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.