Genacross nursing home ends operations

SANDUSKY — The shutdown arrived early for the Genacross Lutheran Services nursing home on Bardshar Road in west Sandusky.As of Friday, the nursing home placed all of its residents in other homes. It's not accepting new patients and essentially has closed operations, although it won't officially close until the state gives permission, said Kari Bucher, a spokeswoman for Genacross Lutheran Services.Genacross announced in November the former Lutheran Home, 795 Bardshar Road, would shut down by Feb. 11, or whenever the 43 residents current at the home could find new homes.The home had 50 employees when the closing was announced. Since then, most have been laid off, with the rest of the caregivers leaving last week, Bucher said. A skeleton crew consisting of an administrator, maintenance staff and the like remain, Bucher said.The nursing home was able to place residents in other facilities more quickly than expected, Bucher said."For all intents and purposes, we're closed. We just can't say we're closed," Bucher said.To complete closing, Genacross has to give notice to Ohio's Medicaid agency, and get the closure approved, she said.No decision has been made yet on what to do with the 11.7-acre property, Bucher said."They still do not know. We are in the decision-making process," she said.Lutheran Home opened on the site in 1979, backed by nine local Lutheran congregations. Genacross came in as the manager in 2000, then took over as the owner in 2005.In an interview in November, Bucher said four related issues led to the decision to close:• The nursing home has lost money for years and has become a drain on the entire Genacross organization• The number of residents has dropped. There were 43 residents when the closing was announced, but the facility could hold 56• Building renovations would cost millions of dollars• The Sandusky area has plenty of other licensed nursing home bedsReach the Register at news@sanduskyregister.com. Follow us on Twitter @SanduskyRegistr and at Facebook.com/sanduskyregisterThe Genacross Lutheran Services nursing home on Bardshar Road has ceased operations.