Chautauqua County Executive Vince Horrigan announced Tuesday that the county will be completing the sale of the Chautauqua County Home to VestraCare today.

VestraCare is expected to call the facility the Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

The Chautauqua County Home, located on 10836 Temple Road, Dunkirk, is a 216-bed skilled nursing facility specializing in rehabilitation and long term health care. It has been owned by Chautauqua County since 1960 and in the past few years its operations were reviewed by the County and the Center for Governmental Research in an effort to find ways to save money for county taxpayers.

VestraCare first showed interest in buying the facility from the county in August 2013. Although its first offer to purchase the County Home was voted down by the County Legislature in October 2013, its second offer of $16 million was approved by the legislature in February 2014.

“Nearly two years ago the county began the active process of trying to find a potential buyer for the County Home,” said Horrigan. “During this period there were considerable discussions among legislators and members of the public who voiced strong opinions on both sides of the privatization issue. Eventually, the decision was made to sell the nursing home to VestraCare who currently operates two other skilled nursing facilities in New York state. I am still confident that VestraCare is the perfect fit for our county. VestraCare is not only committed to retaining the high-quality services currently offered at the County Home, but it has also expressed an interested in expanding our facility’s current services to better serve our citizens. In addition, by shifting these skilled nursing services to the private sector it will reduce the financial burden on our taxpayers and generate property tax revenue.”

The contract signed between Chautauqua County and VestraCare will give preferred admission to county residents and give current residents the right to remain. VestraCare agreed to interview all current employees who filed an application and passed a background check, and it is expected that the majority of current employees will continue to work for VestraCare. Once the transfer is complete, the facility will be called Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Over the past eight months, county leaders have been working closely with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and VestraCare in order to complete the transition by the end of the year. In October, the NYSDOH approved the Certificate of Need for VestraCare and this past Monday the New York State Public Health and Planning Council gave the final approval for the transfer process.

“I have been working closely with VestraCare and our leadership at the County Home, Human Resources Department, County Attorney’s Office, Finance Office, IT Office, and other key departments to ensure a smooth transition,” said Horrigan. “We have been holding town hall meetings with County Home employees, residents, and their families throughout the year to keep them informed. We also held benefit fairs for employees at the County Home so they could decide if they would like to retire, begin a career with VestraCare, or pursue another opportunity.”

“We are excited to be part of the Chautauqua community,” Edward Farbenblum, VestraCare’s executive vice-president, said. “Over the past 50 years, the County Home has earned its reputation as a leader in the healthcare and skilled nursing industry, and we are committed to carrying on that legacy. We will work diligently to ensure that Chautauqua Nursing and Rehabilitation Center continues to be a center of excellence, dedicated to delivering high-quality services and supporting the needs of Chautauqua residents.”

For more information about VestraCare and the Chautauqua Nursing Rehabilitation Center, contact Edward Farbenblum at edward@vestracare.com. A formal handover ceremony will be scheduled after the start of the New Year.