Northview Village was the largest skilled nursing facility in St. Louis, licensed for up to 320 beds and serving not only elderly residents but also many individuals with behavioral health problems. Known for being a crucial safety net for some of the city’s most vulnerable populations, Northview Village provided long-term care for those who often struggled to find placement elsewhere, particularly patients relying on Medicaid. The facility’s role as both a care provider and a makeshift haven underscored its significance in the community, especially for residents with complex needs and minimal support systems.
On Friday, December 15, 2023, Northview Village closed its doors abruptly, prompting a crisis for approximately 170 residents and over a hundred staff members. The sudden shutdown followed a period of uncertainty when more than 130 workers discovered that their expected paychecks would not arrive. Despite having worked their full shifts, employees like Marvetta Harrison — a certified medical technician who had been with the facility for thirty-seven years — and Cherie Ford, a certified nursing assistant, found themselves unpaid and unprepared for the closure. The lack of warning extended to residents and their families, many of whom returned to the care home only to find it vacated and in disarray, with mobility equipment and other belongings abandoned near the lobby.
As the facility’s operator put an evacuation plan into effect, shuttle buses arrived to transfer residents to at least fifteen other care centers across the St. Louis area. The evacuation process was conducted so quickly that many patients left with nothing but the clothes they wore. Some arrived at their new locations without any medical documentation or information about their medication needs, compounding the confusion and distress. Relatives struggled to track the whereabouts of their loved ones, and the scene outside the nursing home on the city’s north side was marked by distress and uncertainty as families sought answers.
The closure came after a troubled recent history at Northview Village. The facility had been fined a total of over $140,000 for a dozen federal violations since March 2021, and the state health department had investigated nearly twenty separate complaints since 2016. Issues reported included residents leaving the building through unsecured doors, and allegations that drugs were brought into the care home. Despite these challenges, many staff and family members expressed frustration and heartbreak at the suddenness of the shutdown and the disruption caused to those who depended on Northview Village not only for daily care but also for stability and shelter. The once-busy front lobby was left in disarray, and rooms on the upper floors stood empty, punctuating the loss felt by the community in the wake of the closure.