Longtime Ipswich Nursing Home Closing Its Doors
IPSWICH (CBS) - Dozens of older people on the North Shore are faced with a frightening reality, as the home they're living in will close in just weeks.
It's also a shock for their families, who now have to find them somewhere else to live fast.
The Caldwell Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Ipswich has been a staple for 51 years. Now, it's closing its doors.
WBZ-TV's Paul Burton reports.
Alicia Attardo's 74-year-old father Bill MacGuire has been living at Caldwell for the past two years. For him this is home.
"I was shocked. It took me an entire day to wrap my head around it," said Attardo. "It's local, so I'm close and two minutes away, so anytime he needed anything it was easy for me to get to him. But, also, the staff there is really, really just awesome."
While the home's been around for decades, it's losing money. Now, 44 residents have to find a new place to live.
"It's a tragic loss," said Phil Sher, Caldwell's executive director. "The feelings really go to each and every resident who is going to relocate because of this and to the wonderful staff who have made the difference."
Now, families are wondering what's next.
"It was a shock to every single family. Nobody knew it was this bad," said Attardo.
Caldwell plans to close its doors next month. Right now, families are scrambling to find a new location to house their loved ones, which has been a challenge.
"You got to find the right place. You got to make sure it's close enough, make sure he'll be comfortable," said Attardo.
Residents said they wished they had more warning.
The staff and residents got the bad news this week. They were all very upset, as nearly 90 people will lose their jobs. Caldwell promises they will not close the doors until the last resident finds a new place to stay.
Caldwell wanted to build a new facility, but lost its funding.
