
District 1 City Councilor Sal LaMattina filed an order this week calling for a hearing on the North End Nursing Home in front of the Boston City Council. He specifically requests the Boston Redevelopment Authority to explain what agreements are in place regarding the property and how they could apply to this situation.
In a statement, LaMattina commented:
There are two reasons why I feel the need to hold this hearing. First, we spent the better part of a year debating whether or not to extend the BRA’s Urban Renewal powers. We ultimately decided that it was important to do so because of their land disposition agreement (LDA) powers. There was some pushback about this from many of our constituents, in particular several of mine in the North End, where this nursing home is located. I feel that this is a golden opportunity for us to have the BRA explain what exactly the LDA’s are and how they can be helpful in this situation. This will be the first time in a long time that a situation has come into play which would trigger this type of conversation. Both the Council and the BRA agreed to be more transparent and maintain an open dialogue as part of this most recent Urban Renewal extension. Let us take this moment to capitalize on that and allow the BRA to explain in more detail.
Secondly, and more importantly, I want to make sure that this building’s usage does not drastically change. While it might not be possible for it to remain a nursing home, I would like to see it remain as an assisted living facility or something similar which would be beneficial for the elderly and disabled along with their families. The current plan is to relocate all of the residents to Allston/Brighton. Needless to say that this is a huge inconvenience to them and their families and should be factored in to any decision making that Partners/Spaulding make along with the city.
Whatever comes out of this hearing, I hope that we can devise some sort of plan that makes sense for all parties involved and does not rush these patients and their families out the door. I ask that we get moving on this and schedule a hearing quickly because time is of the essence.
The North End Nursing Home is owned and operated by Spaulding Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a subsidiary of Partners Healthcare. The matter was sent to Planning and Development Committee to schedule a hearing.
NorthEndWaterfront.com has placed a badge on the front page for the North End Nursing Home linking to all the related articles, posts and videos.
Actually, the active LDA (Land Disposition Agreement) specifically calls for this location to be used for a nursing home and long term care facility. Adding some assisted living options to the neighborhood would be great, but not in place of the nursing home. Questions regarding Partners’ actions need to be answered as well as getting an independent assessment of the facility. Only 5 years ago, it was top-rated. How did it decline so quickly under Partners stewardship? Why did they start rejecting applicants for the nursing home? It all smells fishy and I would love to see the AG look into what is happening. It is too soon to settle for assisted living, and possibly illegal. Let’s get some answers first.
Isn’t that exactly what Sal is trying to do…find out what is in the LDA?
I FIND THE OPEN LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT OF SPAULDING TO BE DISCONCERTING.
HE CLAIMS THAT THIS FACILITY ALONG WITH THE WEST ROXBURY FACILITY ARE NO LONGER STRUCTURALLY
CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE QUALITY OF CARE THAT SPAULDING PRIDES THEMSELVES IN TO FUTURE PATIENTS &
RESIDENTS OF THESE COMMUNITIES.
HE ILLUSTRATES THE LACK OF ADA ACCESSIBLE BATHROOMS & THOSE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HVAC
SYSTEM & ELEVATORS ARE JUST SIMPLY NOT FEASIBLE TO MAINTAIN.
THE LACK OF TREATMENT & ADMINISTRATIVE SPACE WAS ALSO FACTORED INTO THE DECISION TO CLOSE THE
NORTH END FACILITY.
MR. STORTO CLAIMS THAT PARTNERS HAD CONSIDERED MANY FACILITY OPTIONS OVER THE YEARS WHICH INCLUDED
RENOVATING THE NORTH END BUILDING, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS JUST NOT A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE.
THE SPAULDING NORTH END FACILITY WAS NAMED AMONG THE BEST NURSING HOMES IN MASS. IN 2010 BY
U.S. NES & WORLD REPORT. THEY ALSO RECEIVED A 5-STAR RATING FROM THE CENTERS OF MEDICARE
(CMS) & A 100% DEFICIENCY-FREE SURVEY IN 2011 BY MASS. DEPT. OF PUBLIC HEALTH (DPH).
THEY BOAST ABOUT THIS ON THEIR WEBSITE.
COULD THESE CREDITS HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN A FACILITY WHICH PARTNERS CLAIMS TO BE OBSOLETE?
MR STORTO’S OPEN LETTER STATE THAT THE SAFETY & PRIORITY OF THEIR PATIENTS & THEIR FAMILIES ARE
PARTNERS HIGHEST PRIORITY.
HAS SAFETY NOT BEEN A PRIORITY WHILE THEY HAVE OPERATED UNDER THESE DETERIORATING CONDITIONS
FOR YEARS?
WHAT WERE THE MANY FACILITY OPTIONS?
WHO WAS ENGAGED OR PART OF THE DISCUSSING & RESOLUTION PROCESS OVER THE YEARS?
WHAT OPTIONS WERE NOT VIABLE? RICHARD MONTEMARANO
I HOPE & PRAY THAT ALL THE SIGNATURES WE GOT ARE NOT IN VAIN. I AM REALLY TIRED OF HEARING THIS IS A
DONE DEAL. THE NORTH END PEOPLE HAVE SETTLED FOR QUITE A FEW THINGS TAKEN AWAY FROM US, BUT THIS
IS NOT A “LUXURY”, THIS IS A “NECESSITY” & I DON’T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY THEY WERE OFFERED FOR
THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY, THE CITY IS ON AN “ALL TIME HIGH” , EXTREMELY PROSPEROUS COMPARED TO
OTHER CITIES. LET US NOT LET “GREED” GET IN THE WAY OF CARING FOR OUR ELDERLY. BUILDINGS ARE
GOING UP ALL OVER THE CITY, SURELY THIS PIECE OF PROPERTY WON’T MAKE OR BREAK THE CITY IN ANYWAY
SHAPE OR FORM. THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IS HOW DOES SPAULDNG/ PARTNERS GET OFF SELLING PROPERTY THAT
THEY NEVER PAID FOR. IT IS MIND BOGGLING. IF PARTNERS CAN’T HANDLE THE NURSING HOME ANYMORE,
THAN LET SOMEONE COME IN WHO CAN HANDLE IT. THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE UNEMPLOYED OUT THERE AND
THERE ARE ALSO PLENTY OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE &
STEP IN WHEN SPAULDING STEPS OUT.