Tagged: Nursing Homes

A lack of patients is bringing changes to the Henry County Medical Center’s hospital-run nursing home, the Henry County Healthcare Center.  The facility has capacity for 150 residents, but around 30 beds are consistently empty and it’s spent the past few weeks in restructuring mode.  Hospital officials have shut down one hall and cut two full-time jobs.  They also expect to limit the number of new hires in the coming years. 

Henry County Medical Center officials have eliminated two jobs at their hospital-run nursing home, as part of a facility restructuring. The nursing home is in the process of closing down one wing because of a lack of patients. CEO Tom Gee says the number of patients at the nursing home has declined steadily in the past two years, with around 30 empty beds.

TennCare officials say it’s getting more difficult for low-income seniors to qualify for nursing homes and other services. Officials say under old rules, elderly people could qualify for up to $55,000 to pay for a nursing home, adult day care or assisted living if they weren’t able to care for themselves. Under rules that began on July 1, TennCare will take an overall assessment of a person’s need before that level of funding is allocated.