BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Absolut Care of Westfield, located at 26 Cass Street in Westfield, is set to close, a representative from The McGuire Group confirmed to 7 News.
In a statement, the representative said in part: "This decision was not made lightly, and we want to assure our residents, families, employees, and the community that every effort was made to avoid this outcome."
According to the statement, The McGuire Group has been actively negotiating with the landlord to renew the lease over the past several months.
"Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, irreconcilable differences prevented us from reaching an agreement," the statement said. "Because of this uncertainty, we delayed making any announcements until negotiations were complete, as we strive to communicate transparently with our employees and residents."
The representative said the closure plan has been reviewed in coordination with the Department of Health, and its team will work closely with residents and their families to ensure that residents’ rights will be respected during the process. For employees, the representative said job fairs are being hosted and there are opportunities at sister facilities for those who wish to remain with the organization.
For residents like Sharon Ackendorf, who has called Absolut Care home for the past three years, the news has been devastating.
“It’s one of the hardest things that I can go through,” Sharon said.“When you don’t have family around, it’s tough."
The New York State Department of Health has approved the facility's closure plan. According to the McGuire Group, staff and residents will receive support throughout the transition. The final day of operations is set for October 20.
“The hard part is that they are giving us about two months,” Sharon said. “Well, two months isn’t a lot of time to even find a place, let alone start packing up again.”
Sharon’s close friend Janice Carlson fears more than just the move. She worries about the loss of relationships that residents have built with staff and fellow residents.
“She has made a lot of friends with the nurses and aides and stuff too,” Janice said.
It’s not just the residents who are struggling; 7 News spoke with several staff members who said many were caught completely off guard by the news.
Karly Beaujean, a licensed practical nurse at Absolut Care, said the closure has deeply affected both staff and residents.
“These residents have become our second family,” she said.“It’s almost like going to your grandma’s house every day and then suddenly, you can’t.”
Beaujean said that with more than 100 employees facing job loss, many are now scrambling to figure out their next steps.
“We have single moms and dads who have three or four kids,” Beaujean said. “They’re saying, ‘I don’t know how I’m going to pay my bills.’”
Rebecca Shioleno, another LPN at the facility, recently gave birth to her fourth child and was set to return to work this week.
"Knowing that they were going to have me come back and knowing the facility was going to shut down has given me an uneasy feeling,” she said.
Sharon said she hopes that wherever she ends up, it won’t be too far away from the few connections she has.
“I don’t want to be that far out of range,” she said. “I have no family up here other than my best friend Janice, she came out from Buffalo today to be with me.”
You can read the full statement from The McGuire Group below:
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the upcoming closure of Absolut Care of Westfield. This decision was not made lightly, and we want to assure our residents, families, employees, and the community that every effort was made to avoid this outcome.
Over the past several months, we have been actively negotiating with the landlord in hopes of renewing our lease. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, irreconcilable differences prevented us from reaching an agreement. Because of this uncertainty, we delayed making any announcements until negotiations were complete, as we strive to communicate transparently with our employees and residents.
We are committed to providing a seamless transition for our residents through open and ongoing communication with them and their loved ones. Our closure plan has been reviewed in coordination with the Department of Health, and our team will work closely with residents and their families to ensure that residents’ rights will be respected during this process. Our team will provide information to residents and their families about other local facilities, including several of our own sister communities, ensuring that the wishes of our current residents are respected when placement decisions are made, and ensuring that concerns such as geographic location, availability of/access to public transportation, type of facility/provider, ability to meet the residents’ medical and behavioral health needs, are addressed in identifying future placement options for residents.
Equally as important, we are assisting our employees through this transition. Job fairs are being hosted, and opportunities exist with open positions at our sister facilities for those who wish to remain with our organization. Employees will also receive incentives to stay at Westfield throughout the transition.
This was not an easy decision, and we recognize the impact it has on our residents, families, employees, and the broader community. We worked tirelessly to prevent this closure and remain committed to supporting everyone affected with compassion, respect, and integrity.”
