Sale of residential facilities to for-profit company 'saddens' Youngstown Bishop

Mercy Health announced it is selling its post-acute and long-term care facilities in three states to a privately owned skilled nursing and assisted living care company.

According to the Diocese of Youngstown, Bon Secours Heath Board and Bon Secours Mercy Ministries approved a complete divestiture and sale of the operations and facilities involving skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living in Ohio, Virginia and Florida to the for-profit company.

A Mercy Health spokesperson confirmed to 21 News that it is transferring ownership of the facilities to Aventura Health Group.

Local facilities included in the sale include Assumption Village Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation on Market Street in North Lima, as well as Humility House Senior Living on Ohltown Road in Austintown.

According to a statement from the Diocese, Bishop David Bonnar met with local administrators of Bon Secours Mercy Heath to express his concern and sadness that Bon Secours Mercy facilities will no longer operate as Catholic facilities in the Diocese of Youngstown.

Bishop Bonnar states “that these two facilities have served the diocese as Catholic facilities for many years with dedicated employees. They have provided residents and family with care and compassion tending not only for their physical and emotional needs but for their spiritual needs.”

Mercy Health issued the following statement:

Mercy Health has a long history of providing a variety of high-quality senior-focused programs and services across its ministry. It has been our privilege to care for thousands of patients and residents. Health care continues to be dynamic, and we are continuously talking with health care providers, both inside and outside our current footprint, to share best practices and better understand how we can provide the highest level of care, including post-acute services.

Employees, residents, and their families have already been informed of the pending change, according to Mercy Health.

According to its website, New Jersey-based Aventura Health Group operates three facilities in Pennsylvania.