By KATY SAVAGE
[email protected]
BELLOWS FALLS, Vt.— The Country Village Community Care Home is shutting down July 1, about four months after one of its residents was found dead in a culvert at Springfield Hospital in March.
Autopsy reports showed the resident, Neale Gilson, 69, died of hypothermia, said Springfield Police Chief Doug Johnston.
“It was a tragic death,” said Country Village owner Edgar Greason, explaining he had known Gilson for 32 years.
Country Village reported Gilson missing the afternoon before he died.
Greason said Gilson’s death didn’t factor into his decision to close the facility.
“I’ve been here 32 years and my wife and I decided to retire,” said Greason, 71.
Before Gilson died, Country Village was cited by the Vermont Division of Licensing and Protection for failing to keep a list that encompassed who they had at their facility and who they had discharged.
Though Licensing Chief Pamela Cota called the citation a “pretty minor, low level finding,” Country Village was required to submit a plan of correction to the state.
“In a moment of craziness I discarded my admittance journal so I can’t tell you who lived here in 1986 when we bought the place,” said Greason of the citation. “It wasn’t a serious thing.”
The facility is due for another inspection in the 2018 calendar year.
Country Village is licensed to serve 24 residents. It serves the elderly, people with mental health issues, disabilities and “folks that need residential care who can’t or who no longer chose to live by themselves,” Greason said.
The residents are ages 40 to 85.
Greason was working to find new homes for the residents on Wednesday. He expected he’d have 12 residents remaining by the end of the week. Greason said the state would help place residents who still didn’t have a new home two weeks before the closing date.
The closing of the facility leaves fewer options for residents in the area. Sterling House, a home in Rockingham, licensed for 20 residents, was at its capacity.
Sterling House Director Kassie Losee said it will be challenge to lose Country Village.
“It’s definitely a disservice for the community,” Losee said. “We have a need for it and I hope somebody can open it back up because there’s a lot of people who rely on it.”
Greason said about 12 to 15 people were employed at the care home. Those people were currently searching for other jobs.
“I was shocked and very sad,” said Country Village employee Susan George, who has been there six years. “This is my second home.”
It’s unclear if Country Village will continue under new ownership.
“I had some people that were interested but I can’t tell you how that’s going to go,” Greason said.
Greason purchased the building after it was about a year old.
“It will be hard (to leave),” Greason said. “I’m here seven days a week … I know these folks very well.”By KATY SAVAGE
BELLOWS FALLS, Vt.— The Country Village Community Care Home is shutting down July 1, about four months after one of its residents was found dead in a culvert at Springfield Hospital in March.
Autopsy reports showed the resident, Neale Gilson, 69, died of hypothermia, said Springfield Police Chief Doug Johnston.
“It was a tragic death,” said Country Village owner Edgar Greason, explaining he had known Gilson for 32 years.
Country Village reported Gilson missing the afternoon before he died.
Greason said Gilson’s death didn’t factor into his decision to close the facility.
“I’ve been here 32 years and my wife and I decided to retire,” said Greason, 71.
Before Gilson died, Country Village was cited by the Vermont Division of Licensing and Protection for failing to keep a list that encompassed who they had at their facility and who they had discharged.
Though Licensing Chief Pamela Cota called the citation a “pretty minor, low level finding,” Country Village was required to submit a plan of correction to the state.
“In a moment of craziness I discarded my admittance journal so I can’t tell you who lived here in 1986 when we bought the place,” said Greason of the citation. “It wasn’t a serious thing.”
The facility is due for another inspection in the 2018 calendar year.
Country Village is licensed to serve 24 residents. It serves the elderly, people with mental health issues, disabilities and “folks that need residential care who can’t or who no longer chose to live by themselves,” Greason said.
The residents are ages 40 to 85.
Greason was working to find new homes for the residents on Wednesday. He expected he’d have 12 residents remaining by the end of the week. Greason said the state would help place residents who still didn’t have a new home two weeks before the closing date.
The closing of the facility leaves fewer options for residents in the area. Sterling House, a home in Rockingham, licensed for 20 residents, was at its capacity.
Sterling House Director Kassie Losee said it will be challenge to lose Country Village.
“It’s definitely a disservice for the community,” Losee said. “We have a need for it and I hope somebody can open it back up because there’s a lot of people who rely on it.”
Greason said about 12 to 15 people were employed at the care home. Those people were currently searching for other jobs.
“I was shocked and very sad,” said Country Village employee Susan George, who has been there six years. “This is my second home.”
It’s unclear if Country Village will continue under new ownership.
“I had some people that were interested but I can’t tell you how that’s going to go,” Greason said.
Greason purchased the building after it was about a year old.
“It will be hard (to leave),” Greason said. “I’m here seven days a week … I know these folks very well.”
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