“Our state is facing a crisis that demands immediate attention from our legislators: the alarming rate of closures of nursing homes and residential care facilities.

Repercussions from these closures are profound. Residents and their families are enduring emotional distress, while increased travel times strains already vulnerable populations.”

“Maine people have expressed resounding support for initiatives aimed at addressing the ongoing nursing home crisis in the state. The survey, which polled 400 Mainers, revealed significant concerns and strong backing for measures to bolster nursing home access and quality of care.”

“A coalition of medical providers and advocates are calling on state legislators to approve additional funding for long-term care facilities.

Members of the Who Will Care? Coalition held a press conference this morning urging state officials to prevent further facility closures.”

“The Maine Health Care Association unveiled the "Who Will Care" coalition at the state house. The coalition is urging lawmakers to fill an estimated $100 million funding (state and federal) shortfall.”

“Maine has the oldest population in the country, and health care professionals say older Mainers deserve proper care.

Right now, inadequate funding is a major hurdle.”

“‘An estimated 200 people who need nursing home care are stuck in Maine hospitals each day because of a lack of funding,’ the head of the state hospital association said Thursday.”

“As a former member of the Maine Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, I am deeply troubled by the escalating rate of closures and conversions of long-term care facilities in our state… Although this problem is worsening, it’s been a long time coming; when I served in the legislature from 1998 to 2006, we worked to address this concern. Urgent action by Gov. Mills and Maine’s Legislature is needed now.”

“Maine nursing homes have faced tough staffing and financial challenges, particularly since the pandemic. Some facilities, like those in Deer Isle, Coopers Mills and Bingham, have closed. Others like Tall Pines in Belfast and the Gardiner Health Care Facility in Houlton have shut down part of their operations.”

“For residents of Deer Isle and Stonington, which lost their local nursing home in 2021, those destinations are roughly an hour and a half away. Making those drives takes less time from other parts of the county, but still may put long distances between patients and their loved ones — and that’s if those other nursing homes have available beds.”

“A December 2023 report found those working in nursing homes had “seen the highest average wage increases” in all of healthcare, as “average earnings rose by 24.9% between February 2020 and September 2023, from $671 to $839 per week.” Comparatively, the report found that “offices of physicians which saw the largest rise in employment following the pandemic have seen the lowest average wage increases.”

“Since 1995, Maine’s number of nursing homes have decreased from 132 to 81, according to data presented to lawmakers. There are currently no nursing homes at all in Hancock County and only one in northern Penobscot County. Half of the homes in Washington County have closed since 2014.”

“The increased cost of staffing, combined with inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates, will likely lead to more nursing home closures unless something changes, according to the association.

Data shows that nursing homes lose about $40 per day for patients whose care is covered by MaineCare, the state’s Medicaid program.”

“The looming closure of Seaport Village isn't an isolated case. It's part of a distressing trend across Maine. In recent years, facilities like Sonogee Rehabilitation, Courtland Rehabilitation, and Island Nursing Home have all shut down, with reasons ranging from staffing shortages to financial woes. Courtland, for instance, has now been repurposed into Magnolia Assisted Living.”

“Maine nursing homes are closer to meeting the Biden administration’s proposed minimum staffing standards than their counterparts in most other states, but recent payroll data show that still fewer than one in 10 are meeting these proposed standards every day.

And while some long-term care advocates said the national standards should go further, nursing home industry leaders said it would be difficult for a rural state like Maine to find the workers to meet the required minimums, which could lead to more closures.”

It’s the latest in a cascade of nursing home closures that have plagued Maine, where 22 percent of residents are 65 and older. The projected June closure leaves families wondering where their loved ones will live and staff trying to plan their next steps.

“It’s complete heartbreak for everybody,” said Mitzi McKenney of Fort Fairfield, who has a sister-in-law at the facility. “And it’s traumatizing for the residents, causing deep insecurity and fear.”