NORTHAMPTON — Highview of Northampton will be closing its doors effective early next year following approval to do so from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
While the facility initially had until Feb. 6, 2025 to transition residents to other facilities, the facility ceased all operations on Dec. 12.
In a statement, an Athena Health Care spokesperson said, “Though we had Feb. 6 listed as with the state as our closure date the residents have discharged sooner than anticipated. We didn’t anticipate the discharges to happen as quick as they did last week.”
In a previous statement, Highview of Northampton has already said the closure process will be in accordance with federal and state law.
“We are committed to working closely with our residents and relevant authorities to facilitate transfers to other skilled nursing facilities and suitable locations. Our priority is to guarantee the well-being of our residents and staff during this time,” the organization said.
They added, commitment to working with staff in doing everything possible to assist them in finding new job opportunities within Athena Health Care Systems and accessing unemployment resources, if necessary. The 120-bed facility is owned by Athena, a Farmington, Connecticut company that operates facilities in Connecticut and Rhode Island as well, totaling about 40 facilities in all.
“This decision was not made easily and was regrettably reached after considering every possible option. Highview of Northampton has operated at a financial loss for the past three years and was expected to face increased losses this year,” the statement said. “As a result, the resources did not exist to make some critical updates to the building, particularly its heating and cooling system. While we explored every possible option, we simply could not find a way to operate the building and its programs sustainably going forward.”
Highview of Northampton has seen a high number of fines and flagged deficiencies over the last three years, becoming one of the most fined facilities in Massachusetts by the federal government.
In July, Athena provided a statement to Reminder Publishing and within it, noted they have been addressing some of the issues raised over the last three years through policy changes, facilities and training programs, and added it was a challenging time to provide healthcare services in a community setting.
Highview had become the most fined nursing home in all of Western Massachusetts and has received the ninth highest total federal fines across the state over the last three years, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, who also gave the facility a one-star rating.
The company was also under an agreement with the Attorney General’s Office after a state investigation alleged it provided poor care for people with substance use disorder at multiple facilities, including Highview. There have also been other recent reports that have claims from individuals in these facilities about poor conditions.
In total, the facility has been fined $363,000 by the federal government over the last three plus years.
“It has been a privilege to care for the residents of Highview and be a prat of the greater Northampton community,” the statement said.
