Family deals with nursing home closure

Robert Belleisle, 72, retired to Cathlamet with a love of the outdoors. The Coos Bay native would spend his free time hunting and fishing so after 20 years of work for Columbia Ford in Longview, Belleisle purchased a pole building and hauled his boat to Wahkiakum County.

“Seven years ago, Robert had a heart attack,” recalled Ken Belleisle, Robert’s brother and power-of-attorney. Thirty days after his heart attack, Robert suffered a stroke while working outside in his garden. “He’s paralyzed on his right side. He can cuss and he can say my name but that’s about it. He can barely speak,” said Ken.

Requiring round-the-clock care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Ken and his wife, Sharon, had to sell Robert’s home and boat in order to pay for his care.

“We sold everything,” explained Ken, who found a place for his brother at Columbia View Care Center in Cathlamet.

“We loved the care center and the people,” said Sharon Belleisle. “It always felt like a family in there. The staff made everyone feel important.”

“My brother can be a real stinker,” said Ken. “He has trouble getting along with people, but there were some nurses and aides there that could get through to him. We were happy with the care he was receiving.”

Like many of the residents living at Columbia View Care Center, Robert eventually had to turn to the state to supplement his healthcare costs.

“With healthcare costs running about $5,000 per month, my brother’s money only lasted for about four and a half years. We had to apply for Medicaid; needing the state to help pay for his care,” said Ken.

Medicaid is a state and federal program that covers most nursing home costs for people with limited income and assets. Many of the patients at Columbia View rely on Medicaid benefits. Jeff Marshall, Eagle Health Care president and CEO recently told the Longview Daily News that the state’s list of “allowable expenses” eligible for Medicaid reimbursement doesn’t even cover building rent.

“When they first got us together to say they were closing, I was shocked,” recalled Ken. “But looking back, I’m beginning to understand it.”

“I could see years ago that the staff was overworked. Duncan (Cruickshank) is a great guy, but he and Carol (Wegdahl) couldn’t do it all on their own. For a long time, there wasn’t even a full-time bookkeeper. Carol is the most wonderful gal in the world. She did a lot for Robert. But over the years, there has been a lot of turnover there. There were constantly new aides and nurses.”

“At the end, there was a lot of staff for the number of residents there,” said Ken. “I think the nursing home kind of outlived itself. They couldn’t make a go of it and we understand that now,” said Ken.

"It’s a real struggle,” said Wegdahl, “Long term nursing care is the second most regulated industry in the U.S. behind nuclear power plants. It seems like the state is over regulating our good people right out of their health care jobs. It takes a very special person that wants to work in this field.”

“I just don’t think folks in general or local government have valued the financial or medical benefits Columbia View has afforded this community for generations,” said Crystal Stanley, a local business owner who formerly operated the nursing home. “I told key people in strong terms that it was imminent, and I am very disappointed they did not heed my warning.”

When Eagle Health Care announced its imminent closure, residents were given 60 days to find another place to live. “It’s a real loss to the residents,” said Wegdahl who has worked at Columbia View Care Center for the last 33 years.

“We moved Robert to the Americana (Americana Health and Rehabilitation Center) in Longview. It was very sad for us. It doesn’t have the same feel that Columbia View had,” said Sharon Belleisle.

Ken and Sharon visited Americana after representatives from the health and rehabilitation center attended a meeting that Eagle Health Care coordinated for residents and families.

“There were two groups that came and so we took a look,” said Ken. “It was clean and smelled good. I told them that I’d sign a contract on the spot if they could guarantee my brother a private room.”

As for Robert, it’s been an adjustment. “He was angry and kind of confused at first.,” explained Ken, “but I’ve been clear about what his needs are and I feel good about finding him this place.

“Ultimately, I’m just glad the whole thing is over. The thing that I hope people take away from this situation is that these programs need support. Politicians need to start getting behind programs like Medicaid and Medicare because there are a lot of old people out there who need them.”