Ridgepointe Senior Living to Close on Oct. 31

, a 116-bed assisted living facility at 5301 Brownsville Road in , will close its doors for good on Monday, Oct. 31.

Five Star Quality Care, Inc., based in Newton, MA, said that the decision to close the facility was based on “unfavorable financial outlook.” 

“Five Star Quality Care, Inc. announces with regret that it has filed notice with the Department of Public Welfare for permission to close Ridgepointe Assisted Living,” Five Star wrote in a prepared statement. “The cost of operating and maintaining the facility is considerably higher than the revenues it generates, and continued operations are no longer feasible.

“This was an extremely difficult decision.”

In addition to living assistance apartments, Ridgepointe had accommodations for 42 residents with Alzheimer's or other dementia-related needs in a special wing. Ridgepointe also offered respite care.

The notice that Five Star issued to Ridgepointe residents was a 60-day notice dated for Aug. 31, 2011, with a projected closing date of Oct. 31, said Lisa J. Cooney, associate general counsel for Five Star.

A woman who answered the general phone number at Ridgepointe on Wednesday said that the facility was closed. Cooney, though, explained that “closed” simply meant not open to new admissions.

“Guided by state and federal guidelines, Five Star worked closely with residents and family members to locate appropriate, alternative long-term care providers, and as of this date, all residents have been successfully relocated,” the aforementioned statement said.

Ridgepointe employed approximately 62 full-time and part-time employees and 10 per diem staff members. It was not disclosed whether these employees would be moved to another Five Star operation or not. The nearest Five Star-operated residencies are in and Mt. Vernon of South Park.

Five Star did not and does not own the building on Brownsville. It was a tenant and operator of the assisted living facility. There is no word on who will occupy the soon-to-be-vacant building.

Five Star Quality Care, Inc., operates over 200 senior living communities in 30 states.

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