“They ran out of money to make payroll, caused this massive disruption, and just quickly moved forward with their goal, which was to shutter this facility,” said Lenny Jones, state director for Service Employees International Union Healthcare.
Marvetta Harrison, 59, a certified medical technician, spoke about the turmoil.
“This is real wrong,” she said. “I have worked in that building for 37 years.”
“Not only did they mistreat us, they mistreated the residents we take care of,” Harrison said.
The building began evacuating shortly after it was announced that the care center would be shutting down, and there was much disarray in the relocation of its residents, many of which did not have paperwork documenting their medical histories or necessary medication. Some residents’ families have also been kept in the dark regarding their loved ones’ whereabouts.
“They don’t know where he is,” said Alvin Cooper, whose 35-year-old son was recovering from a gunshot wound and drug addiction at Northview when it abruptly closed.
“I’ve burnt two tanks of gas going back and forth to that nursing home trying to find out what’s going on. I don’t know if he’s somewhere safe or what’s going to happen to him,” Cooper said.
Staff members also expressed their frustration over the timing of the closure. Cherie Ford, a certified nursing assistant at Northview Village, discussed the issue with AP News, saying, “This was the only job I had and am facing eviction and no Christmas for my family. We were all looking forward to this check. This was our Christmas check to do our shopping, paying rent and other things.”
Source: Black Enterprise
