As we first reported back in March, the Cabrini Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation on East Fifth Street at Avenue B will close this summer.
In November, we noted that developer Ben Shaoul was the mystery buyer of Cabrini. The building's previous owner was an unnamed family trust who, according to the Lo-Down, sold Cabrini for $25.5 million. Plans to turn the facility over to a for-profit operator never materialized. (Here's more background on the story and the sale.)
We reached out to Patricia Krasnausky, president and CEO of Cabrini Eldercare, to see how the closure was proceeding. She agreed to answer some questions, done via email.
Where is Cabrini now with the relocation plans for patients at the facility?
Since mid-March, we have been working with the residents and their families to determine their preferences for relocation. We provided lists and facilitated the applications. The biggest challenge is geography. Almost everyone wants to stay in Manhattan and there are not enough places to take them all. We have made an arrangement with a nursing home in Brooklyn that is reopening 156 of Cabrini's beds in Borough Park, and will welcome that number of residents who would like to go together to a newly refurbished environment. They will also hire 60 employees, so that residents and employees may be together again. We are also hosting job opportunities for the staff, and working with the union to facilitate employment.
What has been the general reaction from families, employees about the closure?
The general reaction from the families was anger, naturally. There were promises of protests. Residents and families needed to be helped with their anger and grief. We provided psychologists to assist with this. Employees of course are anxious and grief-stricken as well. We are assisting them and celebrating their service through service awards and parties.
How do you think the closure will impact the neighborhood?
The neighborhood is changing. There are so many rentals and condos, and so few nursing homes in Manhattan. Unfortunately, that is a message to those who need such services. No one is looking forward to more construction on East Fifth Street. It has been a mess for years now.
Have you officially heard what will be coming to the space?
I don't have official information, but I believe the building will contain one-bedroom rentals.
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The nonprofit, 240-bed nursing home — sponsored by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — provides health care for low-income elderly residents in the East Village. The location at Fifth Street and Avenue B opened in 1993. This location serves 240 patients and employs nearly 300 people.
Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: Ben Shaoul is the new owner of Cabrini nursing home, will convert to condos
Report: Local politicians reach out to Ben Shaoul as re-sale of the Cabrini Nursing Center seems likely
More details on Cabrini's closing announcement
13 comments:
a travesty. everyone behind this sale/purchase should be ashamed and disgusted with themselves.
people who live in the neighborhood and visited their relatives here regularly will now have to trek out to Borough Park? think of the impact on families, on elderly spouses who will have trouble making the trip, on residents whose family members simply won't visit as often.
how many people will die from the stress of this change?
Ben Shaoul is a pig and I look forward to more annoying, dooshy post-grads in flip-flops.
Is there nothing in place to protect these nursing homes? We are losing every type of establishment and business in the city, from auto body shops to nursing homes. Soon, it will all be glittery new condos and restaurants. Nothing else. Where is the urban planning? I guess all their efforts are going into creating more condos that only a sliver of the population can afford.
What a horrible situation and truly sad to think about.
She mentions there were "promises of protests." Those protests never did materialize. EV, did she seem disappointed that the neighbors and patients' families didn't try to fight this?
@ anon 11:06
We did the interview via email, which I should have noted in the intro (I added that just now).
It's a good question. Several residents emailed me in March with details about a protest. But, as you said, it never materialized. I was only aware of the one planned protest for March 14.
Also, aside from the letter signed by local politicos on March 8, I never heard anything else about the pending closure from elected officials.
Dear Greatest Generation:
Don't leave. Stay put. Make the NYPD come and drag you out in the biggest media fiasco in recent memory.
Don't leave. Stay put.
Hear! Hear! Shawn!
Most of these greedy bastards are clearly well beyond shame, but perhaps rage could be a sufficient motivator? And not just in Manhattan either. Every time they try to push aside the sick, elderly, and the poor, let the NYPD come and drag them from the building kicking and screaming, wheelchairs, walkers, and children in tow. What a despicable bunch of subhuman creeps.
It’s Bloomberg’s Manhattan world now. Dubai on the Hudson. No room for the poor or middle class elderly. Bloomberg and Romney had a “private” meeting today. F them both!
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-57425321-503544/romney-meets-with-bloomberg-in-new-york/
@Eddie
Sure our two tycoons in waiting discussed new and exciting ways to harass and imprison anyone who dares to challenge or protest our new corporate police state. Bloomberg and his cronies seem to be breaking new ground in the supression of dissent. Hell, if they can get away with spying on muslim students who don't even live in NYC, then everything is possible
Was visiting NY 2 weeks ago from
london and staying on E 4th St and
2 elderly ladies came to support
me in a lighthearted disagreement
with a friend. They were sweet
minute ladies with a Scorsese's
paremts' accent, I asked where
they were from, they both said
very forcefully "we are from
here, right here". I asked more
searchingly, we are sicilian they
said. I'm italian I said, one of
the sisters said she had a lot of
worry about the other 2 sisters
at the cabrini home round the
corner, they had just visited
them. Did I know they were
closing the home and where would
their sisters go and how would
they be able to visit them? The
other sister who had stayed
silent, intervened forcefully to
say stop with all this talk to
everybody you meet, it will get
fixed, we cannot worry all the
time. When I saw your blog via
the Lo-Down, I was aware of the
issue affecting the local elderly
at that imposing cabrini home. I
feel for the 4 sisters, and the
others in the same boat. I'm
convinced that the worried sister
was right, you have to tell
everybody and get the local
community to rally round the
homes to ensure the residents are
not forced out of what is their
home. They are vulnerable people
who deserve our respect and
solidarity.
Devastating. Heartbreaking. Unreal.
Ben Shaoul is the devil incarnate.
How could he (or anyone) do such a thing? I don;t have the words
Of all the recent destruction/development/gentrification, this makes me the most angry and sad. One can only hope those responsible will some day be in need of elder care and be met with a taste of their own medicine.
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