Sanctuary At The Park, located in Muskegon, Michigan, recently announced its closure due to a decline in resident numbers and hospital referrals amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The facility provides nursing and rehabilitation services to residents recovering from short-term illnesses or surgeries, as well as long-term care for those in need. With a capacity of 99 beds, Sanctuary At The Park currently houses 43 residents, who will be given options for transfer to other facilities in the area, including its sister facility, Sanctuary At McAuley.
Owned by Trinity Health Senior Communities and affiliated with Mercy Health Partners, Sanctuary At The Park has been a provider of quality, compassionate healthcare to thousands of residents and their families over the years. The closure announcement was made by facility administrator Julie Winkle, who expressed sadness at having to shut down but emphasized the need to cease operations due to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The facility will not be accepting new admissions and is working with staff to help them find employment at other facilities.
Despite reporting seven confirmed cases of coronavirus among its residents and employees, Sanctuary At The Park has not had any deaths linked to the virus. The closure comes amidst a surge in COVID-19 cases in nursing homes across Michigan, leading state health officials to mandate testing for all nursing home residents and staff. This move is part of efforts to curb the spread of the virus in long-term care facilities, which have been significantly impacted by the pandemic. As part of statewide regulations, nursing homes in Michigan are required to complete at least one round of testing by July 3 and undergo weekly testing thereafter until no positive cases are reported for two weeks.
The decision to close Sanctuary At The Park reflects the challenges faced by healthcare facilities during these unprecedented times. While the closure marks the end of an era for the facility, the focus remains on ensuring the well-being of the residents and staff during this transition period. Sanctuary At The Park's commitment to providing quality care to its residents will be remembered as it seeks to support those affected by the closure and facilitate their transition to other care facilities in the area.