Subsidize, sell or close? Polk discusses future of struggling county-owned nursing home

Since 2003, the county has owned and operated The Rohr Home, a 60-bed nursing home in Bartow that specializes in long-term and sub-acute care.

In recent years, the facility has struggled to bring in new residents and keep employees. With 37 beds currently occupied, the facility's operating expenses exceed revenue that's coming in.

County Manager Bill Beasley told commissioners at a Feb. 24 meeting that the financial situation of the facility has reached the point where the county needs to start dipping into its general budget in the form of a subsidy to keep it open.

"For years it operated as a reasonably successful business model," Beasley said. "The last two years, the COVID environment has been enormously challenging for the staff and the residents. Resident enrollment numbers are down with little optimism for growth. .... I will tell you that a substantial general fund subsidy is in our future."

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County Manager Bill Beasley presented the commission three options

Beasley presented the commission three options: Subsidize the nursing home, close it, find a business or non-profit willing to buy it from the county.

After discussion with mixed opinions, commissioners directed county staff to pursue a sell of Rohr Home with an understanding that the county would be on the hook for some funding help until a buyer comes forward — as long as that takes.

The county's budget for next fiscal year must be approved by this fall. The expectation is that the county will be working a subsidy into plans at that time totaling "several hundred thousand dollars," Beasley said.

"As difficult as this decision is, the old business model ain't working any more," he told commissioners. "As a public entity, you have to make some heavy, tough decisions."

Polk County commissioners offered different thoughts

Commissioners offered different thoughts on the subject.

Rick Wilson said he'd like the county to maintain ownership of the facility, which has "benefited generation after generation" in the Bartow community.

The county's website says Rohr Home is a "5-star rated facility," and is consistently ranked by Medicare.gov as one of the top nursing homes in Florida.

"Before COVID hit it was moving along pretty decently, wasn't making a lot of money, but it was doing a lot of great things for people," Wilson said. "And then COVID come along and everything went to hell. ...But I know a lot of people that work there, it's one of the finest places there is when it comes to this. There are people who love the place."

Wilson said it's "premature" right now to consider shutting the facility down. "I think it will turn around. I'd like to give it more time."

If the county sells it, "it will be just like every nursing home," he said. "We know what happens when we don't have control over stuff" — referencing the county's trash collection woes — "It gets out of hand."

Commissioner George Lindsey suggested the county close the operation and transfer patients to other facilities.

"We have to balance our humanitarian, compassion and at the same time judiciary responsibilities," Lindsey said. "As COVID has taken its toll and the industry is changing...I think it's time to start moving toward closure and this needs to be done in the most humanitarian way possible."

He added: "We need to start moving in that direction, whether it's in the next six months or 20 months."

Polk is the only county in Florida that owns and operates a nursing home, county officials said. Commissioner Neil Combee said it's time for Polk "to get out of the business."

"It's been a longstanding institute in Bartow, no doubt about it. They've provided an awful lot of care," he said. "At some point we need to face reality and ask ourselves: 'Why are we the only county in the state that owns a nursing home?'"

Commissioner Bill Braswell said he doesn't want to see it closed down.

"I think it always needs to be there," he said. "I don't think there should be an assumption that it won't be the same quality of care if someone else operates it."

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Commissioner Martha Santiago made the motion to pursue a potential buyer, and her peers agreed to go in that direction.

"I don't want to subsidize this from the general fund," she said. "I don't think we need to be in the business of this in Polk County. I would like to find a business or nonprofit organization (to take this over) and then take it from there."

If the county can't find a buyer, "then we will have to look at closing the facility," Santiago said.

A South Carolina native, Dustin covers Polk County government and county-wide issues. He can be reached at dwyatt@gannett.com or on Twitter @LLDustin_Wyatt.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk discusses future of county-owned nursing home The Rohr Home in Bartow