The Warren County nursing home at risk of closing is inviting the community to come see how vital its operations is.

Elderwood at North Creek will hold an open house on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The facility has applied for a $2.5 million Vital Access Provider grant from the state Department of Health to help get them through the fiscal crisis.

A group of people from the 82-bed facility spoke before the Johnsburg Town Board on Tuesday to talk about their situation.

Administrator Heidi Schempp said that COVID affected the bottom line. They submitted a multiyear transformation plan to get a VAP grant in order to get through the fiscal crisis. However, they received funding for only one year. It is going to take more than one year to get back on solid footing. Among the issues are rising expenses with inflation and a low Medicaid reimbursement rate. 

The state has metrics that they have to meet to get the grant. One is occupancy.

Elderwood currently has 57 residents. Schempp said they have not wanted to admit any new residents given the fiscal uncertainty.

However, there would not be sufficient beds in Warren County to accommodate the residents if they closed, Schempp said. People would have to travel many miles away.

Breann Parker, director of nursing, said the facility had a 2-star rating in 2022 and now they have improved to a 4-star rating. She credited the success to the staff.

“Without them, the quality measures wouldn’t be where they are. We’re all like a family there,” she said.

One of the goals was to reduce the number of outside agency staff used at the facility. Schempp said that has been accomplished. They converted 90% of the agency hires into in-house staff members.

She said that they are not asking for funds every year. They just need to get through this transition.

“Our owners have just ben sustaining us at a loss, so we’re looking for that $2 ½ million to get to our end goals,” he said.

The company has not heard back from the state on the grant application or the closure plan. 

Officials have said that this funding is not part of the state budget process.

Almost 1,300 people have signed a petition in support of the facility, Schempp said.

There are about 100 employees, which makes it the towns’ largest year-round employer.