In a shocking turn of events, the largest skilled nursing facility in St. Louis, Northview Village Nursing Home, closed suddenly last Friday, leaving approximately 170 residents displaced and without proper documentation. The abrupt shutdown came after workers discovered they might not receive their pay and subsequently walked out, leaving residents and their families confused and distraught.

Family members gathered outside the facility on Saturday, desperately seeking answers as to where their loved ones had been relocated. One such family member, Phyllis Gibson, was completely unaware of the closure until she saw it on the news. It wasn't until Sunday when another nursing home called her that she finally learned where her brother had been sent. Alvin Cooper of East St. Louis, Illinois, was preparing to file a missing person's report for his son, who had been living at Northview Village while recovering from a gunshot wound to the head and a drug addiction. Cooper expressed his concern, stating, "They don't know where he is. 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."

The shutdown was sparked by missed paychecks for staff members. According to the union representing the workers, over 130 people were left unpaid on Friday, causing confusion and concern among the employees. Marjorie Moore, the executive director of VOYCE, a St. Louis agency that advocates for long-term care residents and their families, stated that employees began questioning the late paychecks, only to discover that they would not be receiving any compensation. Lenny Jones, state director for the Service Employees International Union Healthcare union, which represents about 100 of the displaced workers, revealed that the facility had simply run out of money to make payroll, leading to the sudden closure. He expressed his shock, saying, "You would have to have been planning to move 175 residents in the dead of night."

The troubles at Northview Village extend beyond the financial issues. The facility has been fined 12 times for federal violations since March 2021, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The fines, totaling over $140,000, range from $2,200 to more than $45,000, although the specific reasons for these fines are not disclosed. Additionally, the state health department website reveals almost two dozen investigations into Northview Village since 2016, with the most recent complaint stating that a resident was able to leave the building through an unsecured door. Another complaint from 2021 alleged that the facility failed to investigate allegations of residents leaving the nursing home and bringing drugs inside.

The closure of Northview Village has caused significant challenges for both residents and staff. Shamell King, an assistant manager at another St. Louis-area nursing home, Superior Manor, reported that some Northview Village residents arrived at their new facilities without medical records or information about their medication needs. The sudden closure has left staff members, such as Cherie Ford, a certified nursing assistant, struggling to make ends meet. Ford shared her experience, stating, "This was the only job I had, and I 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."

The closure of Northview Village has been described as the "worst-case scenario" for a troubled facility. Marjorie Moore emphasized the challenges faced by her agency as they try to account for all residents and ensure they are placed in suitable facilities. Northview Village was not only the largest skilled nursing facility in St. Louis, licensed for up to 320 beds, but also served as a safety net for individuals with behavioral problems and those reliant on Medicaid.

Although the reasons behind Northview Village's closure and the subsequent displacement of its residents remain unclear, the impact on the affected individuals and their families cannot be understated. The sudden loss of their home and the uncertainty surrounding their future has left many vulnerable and in distress. As the investigation unfolds, it is crucial that steps are taken to address the issues that led to this devastating situation and to prevent similar incidents in the future.