Despite heroic efforts to keep residents safe, an Illinois senior living community is closing due to pandemic

A Southwest Illinois senior living center announced this week that it will close in two months due to financial issues not helped by the coronavirus pandemic. Faith Countryside Homes, a nonprofit nursing home and assisted living community in Highland, IL, is planning to close June 10, according to Gerald Harman, the facility’s executive director.

The closing comes despite the facility’s strict protocols and success at preventing COVID-19 spread within its 76 skilled nursing units and 36 assisted living apartments. Just two residents at the Faith Countryside have contracted the virus since the pandemic began.

Instead, the facility is the victim of decreased hospital discharges and falling revenues as expenses increased for staffing and supplies. Occupancy had dropped to 61.6% as of this week, Harman told the Belleville-News Democrat.

“Our staff has done an excellent job during this whole time frame,” Harman told the media outlet. “It’s just a sad day here.”