Community Wellness Partners announced today a strategic realignment of its services, reflecting its ongoing commitment to meet the evolving needs of older adults in the community. This move includes the closure of the Presbyterian Home building and the expansion of its residential care services on the recently updated Lutheran Campus, while significantly expanding its home-based care offerings.

The difficult decision to close the Presbyterian Home building comes after years of operating at a financially unsustainable level, a challenge exacerbated by long-standing systemic issues within the healthcare industry. Since 2007, Medicaid reimbursement rates have failed to keep pace with the actual cost of providing quality care, creating a growing financial gap. Recent Federal legislation has placed an additional burden on providers, making it impossible to continue operations at the Presbyterian Home which, like most nursing homes in New York State, has been operating at a significantly reduced capacity since COVID.

“This was a difficult but necessary decision that was part of our long-term plan since affiliating with the Lutheran Campus nine years ago,” said Community Wellness Partners CEO, Jeremy Rutter. “The partnership allowed us to keep the Presbyterian Home operating for a longer period than would have otherwise been possible. Now, we are channeling our resources to focus on the future and what the community truly needs, as more people are choosing to age at home instead of in a nursing home. Our continuous efforts to build out the infrastructure at our Lutheran Campus are in line with the rigorous standards for future programs, with a particular eye on the PACE Program (Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) which is a key focus for our future. The closing of the actual Presbyterian Home building has no bearing on the remaining services provided on that campus, including but not limited to the Presbyterian Residential Community (PRC), Rocky Steady Boxing and our Wellness Center.

A New Home for Residents and a Broader Focus on Community

Community Wellness Partners is taking proactive measures to ensure a smooth transition for all residents. The majority of residents and staff will move to the Lutheran Campus where they will find a welcoming environment. Community Wellness Partners has invested in facility upgrades and a new rehabilitation unit. A dedicated team is already in place to ensure a seamless relocation, and residents will continue to receive the same high-quality, compassionate care they have come to expect.

For residents not moving to Lutheran Campus, Community Wellness Partners is working closely with other local nursing homes to ensure a seamless transition to a new home that best fits their needs. “We can assure every resident that they will have a new home,” said the Vice President of Skilled Nursing, Jenee Kawejsza.

“We recognize that moving can be a difficult experience, but we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that every detail of this transition is as stress-free as possible,” said Kawejsza. “We’re ready to accept residents at our new location. A place for them to continue to call home.”

This strategic shift allows Community Wellness Partners to significantly ramp up its efforts in home-based care. The trend towards active aging and aging at home is growing, and Community Wellness Partners is committed to being a leader in this area by expanding its home care and other community-based programs such as PACE.

“We are confident about what’s to come in this next chapter,” said Rutter. “By consolidating our residential services and expanding our home-based care, we are positioning ourselves to bring much needed programs like PACE to our community today and well into the future.”