Neligh Care & Rehab Has 'No Intent Of Going Out Of Business'

The general mood and overall outlook for Neligh Care & Rehabilitation Center has taken a complete turnaround in the last few days as the leaders have made it clear: They are not closing.

While Neligh was one of 21 nursing facilities turned over to the state last Friday after the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services was alerted that the company could not make payroll, CEO Elisabeth George said the facility is actually in better shape now than it has been in a long time.

In fact, she went as far as saying, "We want to clarify that Neligh Care & Rehabilitation Center continues to be in operation with no intent of going out of business. We are a needed service in Neligh, Neb."

Why the sudden certainty? Employees are guaranteed paychecks during the receivership process and they now have local control to make improvements for residents, staff and the facility.

“There is a lot of positivity in our building, and everyone is feeling more empowered,” George said. “We feel things are moving in the right direction and this is what’s best for our residents and staff. It’s like a breath of fresh air as we move forward and move in the right direction.”

What many considered a rock bottom moment for the nursing facility has actually catapulted Neligh Care & Rehab with an opportunity to turn everything around, she said..

“This gives me more power to change the things we want to change,” George said. “We are now licensed under my license, which gives me the opportunity to work with different community members for what’s in the best interest for this facility. We can focus not only on the residents in our facility, but the entire staff and its roles.”

Klaasmeyer & Associates took over March 23 as managers from the New Jersey-based Cottonwood Healthcare L.L.C. also known as Skyline. They are now overseeing the facilities and communicating with DHHS on a daily basis.

Ken and Linda Klaasmeyer have been in the healthcare business since 1972. George said she met with them on March 27 to receive initial direction in proceeding forward and “returned to our community with a renewed spirit.”

“People should feel better today than last week,” Ken Klaasmeyer said. “There’s more oversight now than they every had before. We’re checking in with the state daily, as well as the facilities and making sure there is staff and food available.”

Despite being unable to pay their employees during the last period, the facilities all remained open to ensure their residents were cared for. Multiple local employees publicly stated that their top priority was the residents.

George said that committment is a testiment to the future of the Neligh facility. She also said she’s received words of encouragement from the public, including the City of Neligh and Neligh Chamber of Commerce.

“I have never been so deeply touched by the commitment of staff to this community and our residents,” she said. “They deeply care for them and are taking care of our residents. And the community has been just as supportive."

While the staff will be paid going forward, they were without paychecks for several weeks. George said an account has been set up at Pinnacle Bank in Neligh for those who wish to make a donation toward employees, many of whom have families and are struggling to make it through without paychecks.

Omaha-based Immanuel has also stepped in with a generous donation to assist employees and residents. Although Klaasmeyer said he could not publicly say the exact dollar amount donated, he called it sizable.

“They are living up to their mission,” Klaasmeyer said. “Immanuel provided a donation of a $100 gift card to every employee and donated groceries to the facilities. We started distribution of those yesterday.”

Klaasmeyer said his company has now met with every facility administrator and is continuing communication to work through the receivership process, which will eventually include searching for a new owner for the facilities.

“We don’t have a timeline. It could be a month, six months, a year. I don’t know, but we’ll do whatever we have to do,” he said. “The people that own the buildings could lease them to other places. We’ve had various calls from cities asking if the city could take them over, and we’ve done that before.”

Klaasmeyer said he worked with the City of Clarkson last August to take over ownership of that facility from Skyline.

“The city now owns the facility and we manage it for the City of Clarkson,” he said. “They didn’t have the experience for it, so we came in to manage the facility for them.”

George said once litigation is completed with Skyline, then the facilities can look toward potential buyers. She said there have already been tours of people from different states with interest.

“There has been a lot of interest,” George said. “I don’t believe at all that this facility will close. There’s too much interest and too many good things happening. We’re really in the best operating hands possible right now.”

George thanked the community, her staff and the families of her residents for their support.

“Our staff are very dedicated, hardworking, caring people. Know that they have continued to come to work in spite of not receiving a paycheck on our last pay day,” she said. “Your continued prayers will help strengthen everyone’s faith that the best resolution will be determined for the future success of Neligh Care & Rehabilitation Center.”