Citizens seek means to keep nursing home open

Columbia View Care Center, Cathlamet’s sole nursing facility is just one of 10 nursing facilities (“SNFs”) in Washington State owned by Eagle Healthcare, Inc. The group operates additional facilities in Oregon and Idaho with a combined licensed capacity of 945 beds, plus one assisted living facility in Washington with 24 units.

Founded by Jeff C. Marshall, Eagle’s current president and chief executive officer, the group boasts on their webpage that they “provide the comfort of knowing that the resident is well cared for in a secure and pleasant environment, where they can live happily, and where they can achieve their highest level of independence.”

So when Marshall announced in a June 19 letter that Columbia View Care Center would be closing its doors for good, residents, employees and community members were concerned.

“We decided to gather a few local people who were worried about the loss of the nursing home,” said Joan Harvey-Chester who is trying to rally people to see if there is any way that the home can be saved.

"I met with Sandi Rieder, Carol Wegdahl and Duncan Cruickshank to try to get more information on what was going to happen to the care center.

“I’ve been working with a local person who owns an operation similar to the care center and may be interested in helping. However, we have very little time as the management changes need to happen before the center closes or you get into a permitting nightmare.”

Of the potential sale of the care center, current administrator Bill Swanson said, “I can’t really say what will happen. Eagle Healthcare does not own the building, and I have no way of knowing whether they are seeking a buyer.”

Richard Erickson, president of the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce, reported that the Chamber board of directors has talked to both the Wahkiakum Community Foundation board and former nursing home operator Crystal Stanley about the closing.

“The Chamber has been in constant contact with Columbia View Care Center," Erickson said. "Kelly Masters, who used to work there, was meeting with the management for several months. We have offered to help with letters of recommendation and fundraising ideas. We tried to offer help and were told that the parent company was trying to get a new contract with the landlord.

“I hope we can save the ‘little home on the hill’. We are talking about jobs at the care center,” said Harvey-Chester, who is a candidate for county commissioner. “But also the loss that will come to the pharmacy, the county clinic, Wahkiakum on the Move, the tax base and services that call on the center and keep patients near home and families.

“These are challenging times, and keeping unemployment as low as possible and business open is very difficult," Erickson said. "The closing of the Columbia View Care Center is devastating to our community. Not only are we losing jobs but we are losing a place where our family and friends have stayed or are staying. Not only do the clients of Columbia View like the facility it is close to their home and family. Having a loved one in the Care Center is bad enough and then if they have to move to a different town that is really tough on them and their family. The Chamber is very sad to lose this very valuable asset to our community."