St. Louis Nursing Home Crisis: 170 Residents Relocated Due to Sudden Closure

On Saturday, December 16, 2023, Northview Village Nursing Home's front lobby is left in disorder.Photo byVANESSA ABBITT / AP

The sudden closure of St. Louis's largest nursing home, Northview Village, displaced approximately 170 residents, leaving them with no belongings other than the clothes they wore. Residents were hurriedly relocated to other facilities without their medical records, causing confusion and distress among their families.

Workers, facing unpaid wages, protested the lack of payment, triggering the closure. The shutdown unfolded as employees realized they wouldn't receive their biweekly paychecks, leading to an unexpected and rapid relocation of residents.

The closure and relocation raised significant concerns, with some family members unaware of their loved ones' whereabouts. Distressed relatives, like Phyllis Gibson, were left uninformed until others from different facilities reached out to update them.

The closure also impacted those like Alvin Cooper, who sought his son missing after living at Northview Village while recovering from serious injuries.

The facility, previously fined for federal violations totaling over $140,000, has been under scrutiny by the Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services for multiple violations and received a one-star rating.

The Missouri Health Department was notified of the closure Friday evening, with emergency medical service workers aiding in the residents' relocation. However, concerns were raised about the abrupt transfer, including missing medical documentation and histories.

The sudden closure stirred chaos, with Northview Village residents arriving at other facilities without essential paperwork. Shuttle buses transported residents to various facilities across St. Louis, aggravating an already distressing situation.

The closure of Northview Village, although known as a troubled facility, significantly affected Medicaid-dependent residents and those with behavioural issues, creating a challenging situation for both the displaced residents and their families.