Vestal Nursing Ctr

Vestal Nursing Ctr sits at 860 Vestal Road and used to house a 180-bed senior nursing and rehab facility, though after the 2011 flood when water reached up to three feet into the second floor, the building was left badly damaged and has stood empty ever since; you can still see a padlock and chain on the door and a sign on the fence more than thirteen years after closing, and sometimes nearby residents will mention people trespassing, though the property's now on sale for $2.4 million with local real estate agents, and there's talk about turning it into a 128-unit senior apartment complex for people aged fifty-five and older, with one to three bedroom floorplans planned and storage in the basement, which took on water during flooding in both 2006 and 2011. Before the building closed and a new facility was built on West Sheedy Road as a replacement, Vestal Nursing Ctr offered long-term and short-term care, helping folks with medical needs and therapy after hospital stays, including support for dementia, respite care, and a combination of skilled nursing and personal help for those not able to live on their own but who didn't need round-the-clock skilled nursing; the staff provided about 0.51 registered nurse hours, 0.91 licensed practical nurse hours, and 2.39 certified nurse aide hours per resident, and the center offered regular vaccinations for flu and pneumonia along with medical adult day health services. The place ran programs aimed at long-term well-being, recreation therapy, and psychosocial support, like music, pet therapy, exercise classes, holiday events, community outings, and live entertainment, with a strong focus on helping residents stay social and active; family and resident councils gave people a voice, and the facility kept a schedule of weekly menu options meant to make dining enjoyable and varied, always keeping an eye on health and nutrition. The building was never a hospital or a continuing care retirement community and never carried the designation of a special focus facility, but it did try to keep care at a good level, joining both Medicare and Medicaid, and as a for-profit business, they made plans for flood controls like a wall and drainage pipe to try to prevent future problems, though severe floods in the past led to the evacuation of more than 160 residents. Overall, the old Vestal Nursing Ctr holds a long history of caring for older people with services including nursing, therapy, memory care, and personal help in a large building that, if renovated, could once again offer a safe and social place for seniors in the area.