Riverside Shore Rehabilitation Center closing doors in October
Officials say that Riverside will operate the Riverside Shore Rehabilitation Center until October 21. During this period, Riverside will work with the 89 long term care residents to find a new home with the appropriate level of care.
There are reportedly an additional 12 residents that officials expect to be discharged to home within 60 days. The closure will also impact 128 team members currently working at the facility. Riverside is currently meeting with each team member to help them find employment either within Riverside Health System or other employment opportunities.
Support will be offered for resume writing and job interviewing skills. Ed Heckler, Vice President of Riverside Lifelong Health Division says, ""The Riverside Shore Rehabilitation Center infrastructure has outlived its useful life expectancy. Our most viable alternative is to close the facility.
Officials say that the decision is based on multiple building issues caused by how old the facility is. Bill Downey, President and CEO of Riverside Health System says, "Our top priority is to ensure the safe and appropriate transition of our residents. We also are committed to providing our team members support in this transition." Some of those issues include a power fluctuation last month and flooding at the facility due to recent heavy rain.
Riverside says that they are committed to the care and well-being of the Eastern Shore community. In the eight years that they have served the region, they say that they have recruited specialists and primary care providers, upgraded and installed new medical and information technologies and most recently opened the new Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center.
Officials say that they are prepared to help support their residents and their loved ones within other Riverside facilities along with working with their Shore community partners. Riverside will continue its commitment both on the Shore and in the region to support the long term care needs of the community.
Riverside says that unfortunately the old hospital cannot be used because it is not licensed or built to code for a nursing facility. Officials say that their next step is transitioning residents to nearby facilities in Virginia and Maryland.
