The Northview Village nursing home in St. Louis abruptly shut down on Friday afternoon, leaving approximately 170 residents without a home. The privately owned facility, which provided care for aging adults, people with disabilities, and those in need of rehabilitative services, faced financial difficulties that prevented the owners from making payroll.

Administrators informed employees just hours before the closure that funds were insufficient to meet payroll obligations, according to statements made by Carolyn Hawthorne, a registered nurse at the facility. The sudden closure has sparked concerns and reignited longstanding issues surrounding care facilities and the challenges faced by families and frontline workers within the nation's care system.

Residents were transported to various facilities, with some not even informed about the changes. Many individuals were forced to leave the nursing home without their personal belongings, leading to further distress and confusion.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones joined unionized workers from Northview Village in a rally held outside the facility on Tuesday. Mayor Jones strongly criticized the owners for their abrupt decision and expressed her firm condemnation of the closure.

"The owners of Northview Village should be ashamed of their abrupt decision to displace hundreds of residents and the frontline workers who care for them," said Mayor Jones in a news release.

Employees were also taken by surprise as they learned that they would not receive their paychecks prior to the closure. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU), representing 100 workers from the nursing home, including nurses, health aides, cooks, and housekeepers, is advocating for their rights.

Marvetta Harrison, a certified medical technician who had been employed at Northview Village for 37 years, expressed her frustration in a union press release, stating, "The fact that they didn't tell us they were going to close shows how little they respect us, and how little they care for the residents who count on us to care for them. We will keep fighting for the compensation, severance pay, and paid time off that we are owed."

Healthcare Accounting Services LLC owns Northview Village, as reported by federal records. NPR's attempts to reach the business for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

Medicare rates Northview Village with just one out of five stars, categorizing it as "much below average." The rating is based on assessments of health inspections, staffing levels, and overall quality measures.

Lenny Jones, the SEIU Healthcare Missouri state director, expressed outrage at the facility's owners, stating that they "have uprooted the lives of hundreds of workers and residents with no warning, and they should be held accountable for these appalling actions." He further emphasized the pattern of nursing home owners prioritizing their profits over the well-being of workers and residents, which ultimately negatively impacts working families and communities.

Advocacy groups for aging adults, people with disabilities, family caregivers, and support workers highlight the troubling trend of sudden care facility closures. They emphasize the urgent need for a broader conversation about how our loved ones should age and the necessary infrastructure to support their care.

Earlier this year, lawmakers introduced the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Act, which aims to increase funding for state programs and expand access to individuals in need of these services. The bill would require state Medicaid programs to cover HCBS for eligible individuals.

Nicole Jorwic, Chief of Campaigns and Advocacy for Caring Across Generations, emphasized the importance of home and community-based care infrastructure, stating, "We need a support system in place to absorb folks impacted when something like this happens."

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently expressed concern about the quality of care in nursing homes, especially those owned by private-equity firms and other investment entities. Starting from January 2024, new CMS regulations will mandate the disclosure of nursing home ownership, including private equity firms, providing better transparency into the background of organizations and individuals operating such facilities.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) is currently investigating the closure of Northview Village. While the investigation is ongoing, MDHSS spokesperson Lisa Cox refrained from commenting on the specifics. Cox did confirm that MDHSS was informed of the unfolding situation and that the facility operators were implementing the emergency evacuation plan with the assistance of local EMS.

In response to the closure, the City of St. Louis' employment agency, SLATE, is organizing an emergency hiring fair to support the affected workers in finding new job opportunities. The city remains committed to protecting and supporting healthcare workers during this challenging time.

SEIU continues its efforts to collaborate with elected officials, community leaders, and faith-based organizations to provide assistance to workers and displaced residents, particularly during the holiday season.