The following press release was sent at 5:51 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22 by Lanette Briley, LNHA, administrator of Dallas Lamb Foundation Home:

The Trustees of Dallas Lamb Foundation are saddened to announce the closing of the facility immediately. Arrangements for our residents will be communicated and made as appropriate.

The trend away from nursing homes is already clear. We have tried and tried every conceivable approach to make it succeed but nothing has worked.

The number of facilities in the U.S. has decreased more than 1,000 over the past ten years as well as the number of Medicaid only beds. Those certified for long term care stays has decreased in half.

Why is this happening? In part, it is because Medicaid is gradually providing more long-term care at home. To help fund this our bed tax has more than doubled.

Another reason is simple economics. Medicaid cuts of 3% and Medicare cuts of 11.1% are cuts that small homes like Dallas Lamb can no longer absorb. Not-for-profits like Dallas Lamb can only make up the difference for so long until finally there are no more funds available.

Another reason is while nursing home long term care is being squeezed, seniors and their families are turning to alternatives such as assisted living. Therefore many of those who would have been in skilled nursing are now in assisted living.

Senior living facilities have been battered by the recession. With the average nursing home more than three decades old, new construction is needed when the economy eventually turns around…. But it hasn’t.

We understand the closing will be painful but we have no other option.

The Trustees wish to express their sincere gratitude to Louis Lengacher and Lanette Briley who have provided excellent leadership to the Dallas Lamb Nursing Home over the past several years. Both of these outstanding individuals accepted the challenge to assist the Trustees to help turn around the previous years of losses experienced by the nursing home due to declining number of clients living at the nursing home. Unfortunately, the number of clients being served could not be consistently increased contributing to the decision to close the facility. Neither Louis Lengacher nor Lanette Briley are at fault for the Dallas Lamb nursing facility.

Respectfully,

Dallas Lamb Foundation Board of Trustees