Ballad Health caring for residents affected by sudden closure of assisted living facility

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include information from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Ballad Health says it is caring for more than a dozen residents affected by the sudden closure of an area assisted living facility.

In a statement Wednesday night, Ballad did not name the facility but said it was caring for 15 of the 18 residents affected by the closure.

The health system confirmed that the assisted living facility was not a Ballad-owned facility.

According to Ballad, the closure of the facility came with no warning from the state.

“Upon notice of the closure, and given the needs of the residents, Ballad Health’s Clinical Command Center worked with emergency medical services in Carter, Johnson and Washington counties; the Region One Coalition of local health departments and emergency medical services; and volunteer services associated with the Johnson County Senior Center to promptly transfer and care for patients,” the health system said in the statement.

Ballad Health said the affected residents are being cared for at several hospitals, including Johnson County Community Hospital, Sycamore Shoals Hospital, Franklin Woods Community Hospital and Johnson City Medical Center.

“A decision by the state to close this facility put an unexpected burden on these seniors, and Ballad Health is grateful for the partnership between our team and the local communities that worked with us to ensure these wonderful people have a safe place to sleep tonight,” Ballad said.

The health system said the families of affected residents can contact the Tennessee Health Facilities Commission for more information.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation confirmed to News Channel 11 that agents were at a facility in Johnson County as part of an active and ongoing investigation.

News Channel 11 has reached out to the state for more information.

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