The closing of Paradise Care Cottages in Port St. Lucie has caused considerable concern among its residents, who are now faced with the task to swiftly find new living arrangements. Less than the mandate of 45 days' notice was initially feared when residents received an official letter stating an August 5 deadline, but it was later clarified by staff that there was a typo in the document and a full 45-day notice period will indeed be honored, as reported by WFLX.
Phil Morse, a resident of the facility along with his service dog Jessie, expressed his apprehension, saying, "It's the in-between, not knowing." Morse gained residence at the facility after previously being homeless, and now faces uncertainty again. Another resident, Bruce Irwin, shared a similar sentiment with WFLX, "I have no family, no friends to help me. So I'm just stuck." Tina Knutte, who was instrumental in helping Morse find a place at Paradise Care Cottage, is also at a loss as to where they might find suitable accommodation that would accept Morse and his dog.
According to WPBF, the closure of the facility was described as a business decision, with the core issue being the low Medicaid reimbursements for assisted living facilities compared to those for skilled nursing facilities. Cynthia DiVincent, the administrator for Paradise Care Cottages, highlighted the financial impracticality for many facilities, stating, "You can't run a facility on that," referring to the far lower reimbursements that Medicaid provides.
DiVincent has, however, reassured residents and the public that she and her team are committed to securing new accommodations for all residents by the deadline. "We will find placement. It will be good placement," DiVincent promised in a statement obtained by WPBF. As for Morse, the 80-year-old resident and his dog Jessie are dealing with the emotional weight of potentially losing their home once more. Reflecting on his predicament, Morse told, "I'm 80. There's not much left. There's not much left. I paid my taxes. I paid my Social Security and, you know, maybe it's time for me to be able to get a little bit back to what I've given."
Details surrounding the sale of the facility and its impact on current residents, including follow-up plans for rehousing, remain at the forefront of attention. DiVincent stressed the commitment to the residents, telling WFLX, "If they need more time, we'll give them more time. It's not the firm date." Meanwhile, other assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in the area have already begun to offer available spaces to the affected residents, indicating a community response to the situation.
