SEPTEMBER 27, 2000 - Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services Director Kathy Wilbur announced that a state team has been assembled to safely move residents out of the Broadstreet Nursing Center in Detroit after the owner of the facility gave the state less than 48 hours notice of her intent to close as of today, Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2000.

"Since the call came in from Broadstreet on Monday afternoon, staff from our department as well as Community Health and Family Independence Agency have really hustled to help make the best of a very difficult situation and to ensure that we do right by the vulnerable residents who have called this facility home," said Wilbur.

State law requires a facility to give at least 30 days notice before voluntarily closing a nursing home to allow for ample time to find other suitable placements for residents. The owner of Broadstreet, Diane Haugh, indicated both verbally and then in writing on Tuesday that she did not have the money to meet payroll and would not have the staffing to continue to operate the facility.

"It is alarming that this center chose to close so abruptly, especially when they have received more than $460,000 over the last eight weeks to provide nursing home care to Medicaid beneficiaries," said Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman, Jr. "It is outrageous that this center had given us no indication they were experiencing financial difficulties and would try to shut the door on patient needs."

Since there was little other choice and the welfare of these residents is of paramount concern, CIS today revoked the facility’s license and named a temporary manager to run the facility while the closure team from CIS, Community Health and FIA work with residents and their families to safely relocate residents to other facilities.

The State has also made arrangements to pay existing Broadstreet staff during the transition period to ensure that residents’ care needs continue to be met and notified the State Ombudsman, Citizens for Better Care, about the situation at Broadstreet.

Read more Michigan Department of Consumer & Industry Services press releases.