Story Published: Jul 16, 2010 at 6:34 PM MDT
Story Updated: Jul 16, 2010 at 6:49 PM MDT
"It's hard to see them have to change, but at the same time we are helping them and touring with them and helping them meet their needs find a new place to live," says the center's community specialist, Janell Price.
Up until now, the assisted living center has been operating under a state waiver, which means they don't have to be up to code with their room requirements, for example a room is only four square feet under the state minimum of 100 square feet.
"We were doing okay financially in the unit, so that was not an issue, the issue was to spend perhaps several million dollars and get up to standard," says the center's administrator, Dave Boock.
Millions of dollars, administrator Dave Boock, didn't need to spend when there are about 18 other assisted living centers in town with empty beds. Unfortunately, with empty beds means empty bank accounts for the program's employees.
"Several people will either be receiving cuts in the hours they are working or would be laid off completely," explains Boock.
Some positions are open in other programs at the center, but not enough despite those lost jobs, the administrators see this as an opportunity to find new use for that assisted living space.
The administrators are brain-storming other ways to use that program's space. One idea is to intensify their skilled nursing program. Another is to work more with their dementia patients, and special care programs.