Hi-Line Retirement Center Announces Closure

A relatively quiet audience, hopeful of getting some clear, concise answers, filled the dining room at the Hi-Line Retirement Center last Wednesday. Amid rumors and speculation, a captive audience waiting for the word.

Duane Murray, Administrator of the HLRC (formerly the Good Samaritan Center), addressed the families, workers and friends gathered after Chaplain Rick Mikkelson provided a prayer and scripture.

However, the "word" wasn't what those in attendance were hoping for.

Murray first played a recording from KRTV citing the crisis across Montana that has led to the closing or pending closing of seven facilities across Montana.

Pre-Covid, the average number of residents was 42. Even with the low census, Murray said they "were able to cash flow and cover all the expenses and sometimes even tuck a little money away."

After Covid, the census started dropping, as was typical across the state. The Hi-Line Retirement Center is still home to 22 residents and 11 live in the Assisted Living quarters. There are six living in the apartments.

"It doesn't cash flow - we have been losing, on the average, around $24,000-$25,000 a month, which, to a large organization is not that much money...but to us it's a lot of money," Murray said.

He went on to state that on a quarterly month when bed taxes and the quarterly expenses were due "...we lost an average of $100,000 a month."

"Needless to say, the money we tucked away in good times is quickly dwindling", Duane said. "One thing we said was we did not want to wait until we were out of money and then to have tried to do some changes. So, we wanted to make some changes prior to running out of money and so that we could weather the change."

Accordingly, a lot of different options were looked at, over the last couple of years, including closing the assisted living and moving everybody into the nursing home. It was hoped that would help with the staffing issues, and increase the census. Multiple scenarios were looked at, including looking at Category B.

"The only viable option" came down to closing the nursing home and converting it to Assisted Living.

"I told the Board everything had to go click, click, click and everything had fallen into place for it to work. It was a ...nothing guaranteed that it would work."

The alternative was to close the doors and walk away.

"None of us wanted that...we didn't want that, Murray said. "So we elected to go to assisted living...that did not fall into place."

Duane shared, "...local network providers did not support that. The local hospital did not support that. AND the licensing bureau in Helena did not support that idea."

"So, without the support and everyone involved and everyone willing to work together and see if we could come to something that would work it's not going to work."

The nursing home closes.

Unfortunately, if the nursing home closes, the assisted living and the apartments could not sustain the building. The income cannot make the mortgage; the facility has one heating system, one electric system, and one cooling system - it is one unit. It is not financially feasible.

Murray visited with the USDA, the mortgage holder, and they are not interested in leasing or keeping part of it going.

"It's all or nothing"...he added. "So unfortunately we are in a closing mode...and I think we are beyond the point of return."

He stated they will be fast-tracking after the meeting, working diligently to find places for everyone to go.

"It's sad, I was sick to my stomach for days when I had to call four or five people into my office the first of the month and tell them they didn't have a job anymore."

"Now I have to tell 50 people that. I have to tell people who have lived here their whole life."

Calls were coming in from Butte (MT) to send people in the building to Butte.

"It's not fair. It's not right. But that's the way it is. I don't see any way around it at this point...ah...so we are going to be closing."

Winding up his presentation he said the HLRC would be working diligently to make it happen in a timely manner. Duane said he would be gone, and that Betsy Isakson would be taking his place to get through the closure.

"So...that's where we are at...I wish I had something better to tell us. I wish I had some hope. But I don't."

Wrapping it into a closure for the afternoon, the Administrator said he had decided to forego a question-answer session, remarking he didn't have any answers.

Logan Lund, Chairman of the HLRC Board of Directors stated, "We have had correspondence from the State, we have anywhere from 60 to 90 days" in response to the audience asking for some input from the Board. "Lewistown has about 15 spots, they are more than willing to come down and help with the transition in any way possible. The biggest thing is making it as easy for family members and residents...everyone, through this difficult time."

Lund reiterated, "...change is inevitable, unfortunately. I am just hoping that someday there will be a group that will come back, do some analysis and actually get into this building, without a big mortgage payment and provides a service to the community again."

Ombudsman Irena Pulse, from Glendive Action for Eastern Montana, stated that her job was to make sure residents get transferred to where they want to go.

"It was very heartbreaking for me last week to visit with people, and even the week before that, to visit the people and ask them where they want to go, and hear, 'I want to stay here' and unfortunately there is nothing the ombudsman can do about that," she said. "When someone is transferred their interests, their wishes are taken into consideration."

Barb Dunbar, who is the Connected Care Clerk at the Clinic, addressed the group stating there should be a committee to help families place the residents in care. It was her belief that residents could be placed closer than Butte, and that placing the residents should come from the help of all entities.

She further stated, "the hospital and clinic have done nothing but support all that is going on."

As of Wednesday, Havre and Lewistown were both taking clients for skilled nursing and assisted living.

It was stated that the facility date of closing is in 60-90 days, around November 1st. A big factor in the closing will depend on when all the 38 residents can be relocated. One resident passed away Friday morning.

Up in the air, besides hands thrown in despair, are still a lot of questions.

Some were questioning, at the meeting, why families weren't made aware of the critical state the center was really in.

There were no answers given.

Needless to say, social media has been flooded with discussions. Some had what many considered valid concerns.

For some local families, their loved ones are among the numbers in the various tallies. Yet, some residents do not have any family living close. Some residents do not have family.

Many recall the individuals that broke ground to make sure they, and their loved ones, would have a retirement home within this community...their "home".

Unfortunately, there are some residents that are in their own world and do not know it is closing. But their families do.

For families living here, there are basic obstacles yet to be faced; the questions are endless and many are seeking someone who has answers. At least a few answers, anyway.

There are those that poured their heart into the place to make sure it was going to be there forever. Perhaps that was you. Or your neighbor.

In a call placed to Betsy Isakson on Monday, she stated things are progressing along, and as to the residents, she stated, "...they are very, very sad."

In the HLRC Assisted Living, Marie (Nana) Ramos also stated the transition is going as well as can be expected under the circumstances.

Attempts to speak with Gov. Greg Gianforte, Sen. Jon Tester, Rep. Steve Daines, and the DPHHS were made, however, at the deadline for the newspaper no one had responded.

Another chapter in the Book of Life. The pages are turning rapidly.