Saint Mary’s Home of Erie released additional information today on plans to sell Saint Mary’s East to an affiliate of Hill Valley Healthcare.
Hill Valley Healthcare is a New York based national company that specializes in operating skilled nursing facilities.
According to a statement from Saint Mary's Home officials, Hill Valley will continue their mission of providing high-quality and lifelong care.
Saint Mary's officials said the sale of the property which currently includes 139 nursing home beds, 39 of those in the Gallagher Center Alzheimer's unit is expected to close in May. The property also includes 131 personal care beds and an adult daycare center.
The sale. according to the statement, will not impact the residents currently living at Saint Mary’s East. Officials hope all current residents will stay on under the new ownership. Also, Hill Valley Healthcare expects to retain employees at their current pay rates and with a similar benefits package.
Residents and employees of Saint Mary’s at Asbury Ridge in Millcreek Township,and the Carriage Homes at Asbury Ridge will not be affected by the sale.
According to Allen Bonace, President and CEO of Saint Mary’s Home of Erie, “This was an incredibly difficult decision that was not made until we explored all options. Ultimately, we determined that the sale to an affiliate of Hill Valley Healthcare was in the best long-term interest of our residents, our employees, our organization, and the Erie Community."
Bonace said the decision was driven by the need to assure long-term financial stability for Saint Mary’s Home of Erie, a nonprofit organization and sponsored ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Northwestern Pennsylvania.
With substantial investments required to maintain and modernize the historic Saint Mary's East facility and Pennsylvania’s Medicaid reimbursement rate lagging well behind inflation, the Saint Mary’s Board of Trustees and the Sisters of St. Joseph decided that that continuing to operate the home is no longer economically sustainable.
As a national operator, the believe that Hill Valley has the ability to continue their mission. “In Hill Valley Healthcare we found an organization that shares a culture and values aligned with those of Saint Mary’s Home of Erie,” Bonace added.
Shimmy Idels, the COO of Hill Valley Healthcare, agreed, “We intend to continue to provide the wonderful and caring services that the Erie community has come to expect from Saint Mary’s. We look forward to providing a continuum of care for our residents driven by positively responding to their ever-changing needs and the needs of their families.”
Although Saint Mary's Home of Erie will no longer have a presence in east Erie, the Sisters of St. Joseph plan to remain active partners in the neighborhood. “We believe strongly in the East Erie community that has been home to Saint Mary’s East for more than a century. We are grateful for the relationships we have established in the neighborhood, and we look forward to continuing our presence through the SSJ Neighborhood Network.”